| "The members of the [commission] and anyone associated with fraudulent democracy, will feel the sword of righteousness on their necks"... |
Iraq's most feared militant group has stepped up its attempts to disrupt the country's first democratic elections by sending letters to the authorities warning it will kill anyone involved in administering the January poll. The group, led by the Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has delivered the letters to the Mosul and Baghdad offices of the Independent Electoral Commission. "The members of the [commission] and anyone associated with fraudulent democracy, will feel the sword of righteousness on their necks," the group says in one of the typewritten letters shown to the Guardian.
Security in the run-up to the elections remains the chief concern for the authorities amid a ferocious bombing and kidnapping campaign by insurgents. Joint military operations are under way to break the hold of Sunni militants in areas south, north and west of Baghdad so that elections can take place. The threats from the militants come on the eve of nationwide voter registration, in which as many as 14 million Iraqis could sign up to vote. From Monday, about 6,000 election workers will staff 545 registration centres in schools and municipal buildings across Iraq. But officials fear intimidation by insurgents will deter many potential voters. A female poll worker in the troublespot of Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad, was kidnapped and killed this week. Carlos Valenzuela, the UN's chief electoral adviser in Iraq and a non-voting commission member, said: "The security of the facilities and the people are a source of concern and the subject of daily discussions between the commission and the Iraqi forces' supported by the multinational forces. "There have been threats to the UN for supporting the electoral process for months. They are taken seriously, but you have to continue your work. It is very encouraging that there have been no shortage of Iraqis wanting to work for the commission despite the risks." |