Iraq to polls on Jan 30

2004-11-21 14:18

Baghdad - Iraq's first post-Saddam elections will be held on January 30, the body in charge of organising the landmark vote announced on Sunday, as world powers prepared for a conference on the country's future against a backdrop of continued violence.

US and Iraqi troops were still hunting down insurgents in the capital and other parts of the country following a massive operation on the Sunni Muslim stronghold of Fallujah where 1 450 suspects have been rounded up.

Several areas of Iraq had become no-go zones in recent months and cast doubt on the feasibility of elections in January, but Iraq's electoral commission spokesperson Farid Ayar said the vote would go ahead as planned.

"The general elections will take place on January 30 2005," Ayar told AFP in Beirut.

Despite growing scepticism that the elections could be held on time and boycott calls from radical Sunni Muslims in Iraq, Prime Minister Iyad Allawi had always remained adamant there would be no delay.

With the US military more stretched than ever by its nationwide push to reclaim rebel hotspots, top US brass hinted tours of duty could be extended and reinforcements sent to Iraq for the elections.

Ayar's announcement will be a boost ahead of a conference opening in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday which will bring regional and international powerbrokers to the same table for the first time since the June transfer of power.

Interim government in favour of free elections

Iraq will be represented by foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari, who said he would seek to muster broader foreign involvement in rebuilding and securing Iraq, and send a message to Iraqis that the interim government was in favour of free elections.

Representatives of G8 countries, the United Nations, European Union, Arab League, Organisation of the Islamic Conference and Iraq's neighbours are expected to pledge support to UN resolution 1546 on the political process.

Iran nevertheless warned that the first day of the conference, during which Iraq's neighbours will discuss regional issues, could be the most contentious.

"We will take part in the Sharm el-Sheikh conference with force," Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters.

He said Iran will "protest against the methods of the United States, insist on the necessity of withdrawing American troops from Iraq and the organisation of elections on schedule."

- AFP