Iraq Extends Party Registration In Restive Sunni Areas

25 November 2004 -- Iraq's election commission today extended to 2 December the deadline for registering political parties in Sunni Muslim areas where violence is hampering preparations for elections set for 30 January.

The areas include Iraq's third largest city of Mosul, the Anbar Province that includes Al-Fallujah, and the Salaheddin Province that includes Al-Samarra and Tikrit.

Iraq's main Sunni party threatened today to boycott the election if authorities continue to schedule it for January. Iraqi Islamic Party head Mohsen Abdul said continuing violence renders that date premature.

(AP/Reuters)