Accessibility links

Breaking News

Deadline Passes For Iraq's December Elections


(AFP) 28 October 2005 -- Election officials in Iraq say they received a number of applications for upcoming nationwide elections as the deadline to register for the parliamentary polls passed.

Election Commission chief Hussein Hendawi said there was a "rush" on the last day to register, but added that it is too early to give details about applications.

The ruling Shi'ite Islamist parties -- the United Iraqi Alliance -- have agreed to register as a united bloc for the 15 December elections.

The alliance is expected to face a new coalition of three leading Sunni Arab parties.

The two main Kurdish movements -- which joined the Shi'ite alliance in the interim government -- have also agreed to run on a joint ticket again.

Three Sunni-Arab parties -- the Iraqi Islamic Party, Iraqi National Dialogue Council, and the Iraqi Peoples Conference -- announced on 26 October that they will participate as a coalition list named the Iraqi Accordance Front.

(RFE/RL/Reuters/AFP/AP)
Visit <a href="http://www.rferl.org/specials/iraqcrisis/">"The New Iraq" for all the latest news and analysis on Iraq

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG