Stay out of our polls, Iraq warns Iran as vote concerns mount [View All]

[maddezmom]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraq (news - web sites)'s interim president accused Iran of meddling in the Iraqi election process, adding to mounting concerns about the viability of landmark vote scheduled for January 30.


AFP Photo


AFP
Slideshow: Iraq



Ghazi al-Yawar said Iran was coaching candidates sympathetic to Tehran and pouring "huge amounts of money" into the Iraqi election campaign in the hope of producing a loyal Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad.


The comments by the president highlighted a new cause of concern one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites) bluntly remarked he could not imagine how elections could go ahead in Iraq under the "total occupation" of foreign troops.


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The comments by Yawar, made in an interview to the Washington Post and echoed by Jordan's King Abdullah II, further underlined concerns that Iran's alleged role in the vote could widen the Sunni-Shiite split even more.



more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=1&u=/afp/20041208/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_041208112239