Powell: the Iraqi elections will be on time

The United Arab Emirates UAE dailies yesterday issued an interview with the US secretary of state Colin Powell in which he stressed his country's commitment to make the Iraqi elections.

In a statement to the Kuwaiti al-Itihad daily, the US secretary of state stressed his country's commitment to the end of January 2005 as a final date for carrying out the Iraqi elections regardless to the development of the security situation in Iraq.

Powell said that his administration will accept the results of the Iraqi elections even it brings in a Shiite Islamic government, noting that he does not think that the Iraqi people will vote for a government which does not represent all sects.

The US secretary of state denied evidence on having an activity for al-Qaida organization on the land of Iraq, stressing that the detention of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has become a security priority.