U.S. Would Accept Fundamentalist Iraq
Bush: "I will be disappointed, but democracy is democracy" (file photo)
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19 October 2004 -- U.S. President George W. Bush says he would be disappointed but would accept it if Iraqis voted to create an Islamic fundamentalist government in democratic elections.
Bush was asked during an interview with the The Associated Press how he would react if Iraqis someday freely voted into power an Islamic fundamentalist government. Bush replied, "I will be disappointed, but democracy is democracy."
In an effort to quell violence ahead of elections scheduled for January, interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has announced plans to extend a cash-for weapons program nationwide.
Allawi said a cash-for-guns program for Shi'ite Muslim fighters in Baghdad's Al-Sadr City area has been going well and should be extended to the rest of Iraq.
U.S. forces have carried out further strikes targeting insurgents in the city of Al-Fallujah.
A U.S. military statement said the strikes, which ended early today, destroyed suspected safe houses and weapons caches linked to followers of Jordanian-born militant leader Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi.
(AP/Reuters)
[For the latest news on Iraq, see RFE/RL's webpage on "The New Iraq".]