Iraqi political and religious leaders have picked an interim national assembly, choosing a list of candidates backed by the government after four days of often heated debate.

The announcement was made by Waleed Shaltah, a senior member of the organising committee for the process, who gave few other details.

The 100-member assembly will oversee the government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and pave the way for elections in January.

On Tuesday, independent delegates said the assembly was being stacked with government supporters and could be no more than a rubber stamp.

The four-day meeting was also dominated by acrimony over an uprising in the southern city of Najaf.

The assembly will be able to veto legislation with a two-thirds majority, approve the 2005 budget and appoint a new prime minister or president should either quit or die in office.-Reuters