UN envoy to Iraq discusses the elections with Washington

The UN special envoy in Iraq Ashraf Qadi discussed yesterday in Washington with the US under secretary of state Richard Armitaj the organization of the elections in Iraq for which the US seeks vaster UN role.

The spokesman for the US Department Of State Adam Early said that Armitaj "announced we appreciate the important task carried out by Qadi and the UN team in Iraq," expressing his satisfaction over the announcement of the UN that its preparations for these elections are continuous and that training employees who will supervise it is underway.

The spokesman added that Washington expects the UN to increase its staff in Iraq but the UN stressed the need of improving the situation at the internal level so as it will be able to increase number of its mission in Iraq.

Egypt, for its part underlined the importance of the participation of vaster strata of Iraqis in the elections in order to help the country restoring back its sovereignty. Worthy mentioning that the Egyptian Foreign minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheit said that boycotting the elections will violate it, in a remark to the call for Iraqi parties and figures especially the Sunni who plan to boycott these elections during the few coming days.

In Iraq, the higher commission for the elections extended the period for election lists for candidates which expired on Friday for other five days. The Shiite list which was announced on Thursday excludes al-Sader trend. The list in which women occupy one third out of 228 wins the support of the Shiite reference represented by Ali al-Seistani.

The Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader whose trend announced boycotting the elections, doubted holding the elections amid deteriorated security conditions.