Local elections barred in Iraq
From an article in the Financial Times reporting the British in Basra are arguing open elections are possible:
The Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad has had an unofficial policy banning even local elections since the end of the war, according to US military officials interviewed at locations throughout Iraq. This is despite the assessment of the military that elections are feasible within very short periods of time.
From an article in the Financial Times reporting the British in Basra are arguing open elections are possible:
The Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad has had an unofficial policy banning even local elections since the end of the war, according to US military officials interviewed at locations throughout Iraq. This is despite the assessment of the military that elections are feasible within very short periods of time.
At the end of May, for example, a US Marine unit in the city of Najaf had prepared to hold an election for a local assembly, which was cancelled by Mr Bremer days before it was to take place.
In a matter of a few weeks, US marines in Najaf had built ballot boxes, a US army civil affairs unit had arranged for voter registration and polling stations throughout the city, and candidates had campaigned.
A US army civil affairs officer interviewed at the time clearly felt that the election was feasible, but declined to comment on the CPA’s decision.
Hmm, I thought the stated intention was to bring democracy to Iraq…