Iraqi opposition leaders demanded Thursday that the Iraqi people be granted a greater say in the makeup of any government to replace Saddam Hussein  after a U.S.-led invasion. The exiles are furious over recent reports that the United States plans to install a U.S military-run administration and keep many lower level officials of Saddam's Baath party in their posts after the Iraqi leadership falls.

"We are getting conflicting signals," said Ghassan Atiyya, a prominent, independent opposition figure. "We feel more consultations will be to our benefit."

Opposition members say U.S. officials have told them of plans to install a U.S.-run military administration after Saddam is ousted in a possible U.S. attack. That would be phased out and replaced by an Iraqi civil government.

The opposition fears that the U.S. plan would effectively sideline a 65-member steering committee the opposition set up during a conference in London in December aimed at forming the basis of a post-Saddam transitional government.

The Iraqi exiles had hoped that they would have a share in a future Iraqi government immediately and have called for partnership with the United States in setting the agenda in the country.

"Imposing a military governor or ruler is counterproductive," said Ali al-Bayati, who represents the Shiite Muslim and Iranian-backed Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq. "It's important not to impose any kind of government during the transition period without consulting the Iraqi people."

U.S. envoy Zalmy Khalilzad was in London on Thursday for private talks with the exiles. They said they would seek clarification from him regarding the U.S. plans.

Yehya al-Wetari, an independent opposition official, said he was concerned that because the West supported Saddam in the past, they would back another dictator in the future.

"We want to get assurances that these mistakes should not be done again," said al-Wetari. "We don't want you to support another Saddam Hussein."

PHOTO CAPTION

Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim opposition leader Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim speaks during an interview at his Tehran headquarters on February 4, 2003. Al-Hakim, who heads the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq -- the largest single Iraqi dissident group, warned that the United State risked dragging a post-Saddam Hussein  Iraq into chaos if it chose to go it alone without involving Iraqi opposition groups in toppling the Iraqi leader. REUTERS/Morteza Nikouba