Arab states suggest Iraq election postponement (uh-oh.)

[elehhhhna]

Arab states suggest Iraq poll postponement
Tuesday 23 November 2004, 2:41 Makka Time, 23:41 GMT

Amid continuing violence in Iraq, Arab delegations to an international conference on the conflict-stricken country have said it might be better to delay Iraqi elections beyond January to ensure full participation.

The interim Iraqi government said, however, that after the US assault on the city of Falluja it was optimistic about the prospects of holding the elections on 30 January despite the possibility that some Iraqi Sunnis may boycott them.

Egypt, Jordan and the Arab League all raised the possibility of delaying the elections beyond January, the date set by the UN Security Council, if the process is not inclusive.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu al-Ghaith, the conference host, said the debate would indicate "whether it is really possible to hold these elections at the time fixed or whether the matter requires additional thought".

Hisham Yusuf, a senior adviser to Arab League chief Amr Musa, said many delegations had raised the same question.

"We would prefer inclusiveness by giving them more time rather than exclusiveness and on time," he said.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B8089015-300F-496F-ACCD-6EE44DAFA4EE.htm

[burrowowl]

1. Just read an article on that

in Le Monde ...
The January elections don't mean anything .... also they meet thought that if there are uprisings after the elections, the U$ shouldn't be invited back, if necessary, until a year had passed after the elections.

[mseang]

2. Election year politics...

I see two possible scenarios...

1. This was all election year politics and the elections, which have no chance in hell of being fair and democratic, will be canceled now that Bush has been re-elected. They obviously do not care what the heck happens in Iraq now.

2. The current Governing council or the candidate of the Shrub's choosing will be elected and they will immediately ask for a withdrawal of US troops; therefore, paving the way for an invasion of Iran and further destabilizing of the entire region.