UN to blame for risk to poll: Iraqi minister
AFP, AP
October 22, 2004
BAGHDAD: Iraq's interim Government has warned that US-backed elections due to be held in January are at risk because the United Nations has failed to assign enough officials to monitor the vote.
"It is regrettable to note the participation of the UN in the elections is not at the required level," Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said yesterday.
The world body gave greater priority to the elections in East Timor than to Iraq's poll, Mr Zebari said.
"The number of UN experts is no more than 30, while there were more than 300 in Timor. Judging by the size of the process in Iraq and its complexity, we definitely need a larger UN presence, at least to bestow trust on the electoral process."
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