The Hindu : International : Allawi firm amid calls to put off poll

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Thursday, Jan 06, 2005

International

International

Allawi firm amid calls to put off poll

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, JAN. 5. There has been no let-up in the pre-election violence in Iraq, as guerillas mounted a spate of attacks across the country, causing multiple casualties.

At least 15 persons were killed during an attack at a police station in Hilla and on a military convoy that was passing close to the area where a funeral procession of Baghdad's Governor, Ali al-Haidri, who was killed on Tuesday, was proceeding.

Thirteen persons died and 25 were wounded when a suicide car bomber drove into the compound of the recruitment centre where a graduation ceremony was taking place. Hilla is about 100 km south of Baghdad.

Earlier during the day, two Iraqi civilians were killed and 10 wounded when a suicide car bomber targeted a U.S. military convoy.

The surge in violence has caused senior leaders in the Iraqi interim Government to call for the postponement of the January 30 elections. But the interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, stressed at a news conference that the polls would be held as scheduled. "The Government is committed to running the elections on schedule," he said.

On Tuesday, the interim President, Ghazi Yawar, had told the Reuters news agency that the United Nations should "stand up for their responsibilities and obligations" by assessing whether the election can be conducted on schedule."

U.S. soldiers killed

Five U.S. soldiers were killed on Tuesday, causing the largest number of casualties in a single day following the suicide bombing of mess tent in Mosul on December 21.

Eighteen American troops were killed in that attack. The military announced that a U.S. soldier belonging to Task Force Olympia was killed and two were wounded after their patrol was attacked with small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire on Tuesday afternoon in Tal Afar in northern Iraq.

The number of U.S. soldiers suffering combat injuries in Iraq has surpassed the 10,000 mark since the war began in March 2003.

In a statement, the U.S. Department of Defence said 10,252 U.S. troops had been injured since March 19, 2003, of which 5,396 were hurt seriously enough they were unable to return to the battlefield. Another 4,856 troops were wounded and were able to return to duty in Iraq, the statement said.

The group belonging to the Jordanian militant, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has claimed responsibility today for the assassination of Baghdad's Governor, Ali al-Haidri.

A statement and video that the group posted on the Internet said that, "We tell every traitor and everyone who is loyal to the Jews and the Christians that this will be your fate."

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