The Hindu : International : Polls as scheduled, says Allawi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 20, 2004

International

International

Polls as scheduled, says Allawi

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, SEPT. 19. Elections in Iraq would go ahead as scheduled in January despite continuing violence, said the interim Iraqi Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, here on Sunday after talks with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

Mr. Allawi said his Government would not be deterred by attempts to `undermine' the democratic process and stick to the "time-table'' already announced. "Democracy will prevail,'' he added and called upon the United Nations to provide whatever assistance it could to ensure that elections went off smoothly.

At a joint press conference with Mr. Blair in Downing Street, Mr. Allawi endorsed the British Prime Minister's description of Iraqi resistance groups as `terrorists' and claimed that his Government was succeeding against what he described as the "forces of evil''.

Both leaders sought to play down the post-war chaos in Iraq blaming it on a small number of `terrorist' and groups and insisting that in the end they will be `defeated'.

They urged the international community to set aside its differences over the rights and wrongs of removing Saddam Hussein and, instead `unite' to help in the post-invasion reconstruction of Iraq.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

Iraq had no WMD: report

Iran terms IAEA move illegal

Polls as scheduled, says Allawi

Taliban intimidates voters

Attack bid in Moscow

Lost for words

Serbs go to the polls

Linguists' meeting bars Nobel laureate

Nader back on ballot

Friendship for auction on eBay

U.N. threatens Sudan with oil sanctions

Three Iraqis beheaded

Musharraf hopes for `wholesome meeting'

Gurinder Chadha in big league with Bride and Prejudice

U.S. to ease curbs on space, n-facilities