Iraqi Opposition Groups Reject Early Election Results

They called for an international investigation into charges of vote-rigging.

The groups included the main Sunni Arab coalition, a secular Shi’ite bloc led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and the National Congress headed by Ahmed Chalabi.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair made a brief visit to Iraq. Blair said the situation in the country has improved since last year. Blair said that restoring stability to the country would deal a "body blow" to global terrorists.

Polish Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz also visited Iraq today.

Marcinkiewicz met with Iraqi officials and with Polish troops serving in the multinational force serving in Iraq.

Following his meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Ja’afari, Marcinkiewicz said the continued deployment of Polish forces in Iraq would be a decision to be made by the elected Iraqi government.

(AFP/dpa)