Iraq's interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, has said elections must go ahead as planned in January even if violence stops some Iraqis from voting. In an interview with UK newspapers, he conceded that some of the worst-hit towns may be unable to hold a vote. But he said it was important that the political process should continue.
| Those who fight get left behind. |
Despite the continuing violence, Mr Allawi said the aim was for the whole country to be involved in the direct elections set for next January. "If, for any reason, 300,000 people cannot vote because terrorists decide so - and this is imposing a very big if - then frankly 300,000 people is not going to alter 25 million people voting," Mr Allawi told The Times and Guardian newspapers. "There are problems, yes. But to the point that we can't conduct an election? I don't think so." In an interview on Sunday, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said he was confident that the elections for next year could still be held on time - though he gave no further details on the plan to end the violence. "This is not the time to get weak in the knees or faint about it, but to drive on and finish the work that we started," he told NBC television.
| Yep, keep pushing democracy. |
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