Interim Iraqi Government Pressured to Include Opposition

[Khephra]

Interim Iraqi Government Pressured to Include Opposition
Sunni Boycott of Elections Feared

By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 23, 2004; 11:43 AM

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov. 23 -- At an international conference here on the future of Iraq, the interim government in Baghdad came under pressure Tuesday to work harder to encourage opposition forces to participate in the country's first democratic election as a critical step toward national reconciliation.

The pressure reflects growing concern among Iraq's neighbors and the wider Arab world that the pivotal Sunni Muslim minority will boycott the poll, now scheduled for Jan. 30, officials from participating countries said. Sunni anger and antagonism has increased lately due to U.S.-led attacks on Sunni strongholds as well as attacks on Islamic sites.

The interim government of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi will attempt to ensure all sectors that disavow violence and terrorism participate, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told a news conference. "Of course the elections should be totally comprehensive, and in all areas, and they should not exclude any section, any province or any ethnic group," he said.

But the Arab world, where the majority of countries are Sunni-dominated, made clear they are willing to intervene to ensure that Iraq, which has a Shiite Muslim majority, does everything possible to bring Sunnis into the process.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7216-2004Nov23.html

[aneerkoinos]

1. A thought

Allawi, if he's not just a stupid thug, which is still the likelies possibility, could very well be Iran's mole, another Chalabi that has not been exposed.

He's sure been playing things the way so that with elections Shia religious parties' coalition will have no problem getting absolute majority... ;)