Iraq's Sunni Muslims plan to resist Shia demands for early elections, weakened by a leadership vacuum and internal disarray. Speaking to journalists on Monday, Sunni tribal leader Shaikh Abd al-Wahab al-Zawbaai rejected the election demand made by Grand Ayat Allah Ali al-Sistani – labelling it an unrealistic option. "We see the conditions now as totally unsuitable for elections. People are in a state of chaos and there is no respect for the law." Iraqi Islamic Party spokesman Hashim al-Hasani spoke of the consequences of pushing through an unpopular quick vote, warning of violent civil war. "It's the nature of human beings: when you corner a man, he will react and defend himself. There are lots of weapons in this country … If people are pressured they will use these weapons to defend themselves." **Fall from grace*** Arab Sunnis no longer enjoy any kind of leading role, are represented in few major organisations, and have no immediately recognisable political figures. However, the Shia have established religious authorities and Iraqi Kurds have an established political leadership and organisation. Under the former Iraqi president, the Sunnis dominated the Baath Party, the security apparatus and the army. But all were disbanded by the US-led occupation administration in May 2003. Even the tribal elders who always played a dominant role in the Sunni community find themselves marginalised and unable to extend their influence because of the large interference in the tribal structure. Last December, major Sunni religious movements formed The Supreme Council of Shura for the Sunni in an attempt to create a leadership that would counter the balance of the other communities. But any positive effect is yet to be seen. **Election planning*** A UN team is in Iraq to investigate the possibility of holding early elections before the US handover of sovereignty to an Iraqi interim council in 30 June. Washington wants elections to be held in 2005, but Shia officials - who were systematically kept out of power by the Arab Sunni-dominated Baath party - are pushing for them to be held as soon as possible.