13 September 2004 -- Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has said elections scheduled to take place next January will go ahead as planned even if violence prevented some Iraqis from voting.
In interviews published in the British "Guardian," and "The Times," Allawi said it was important that the political process continues.
His remarks come a day after heavy fighting at several places in Iraq.
Baghdad saw hours of gunbattles following mortar attacks on the so-called Green Zone, which houses the Iraqi interim government and several embassies. The Iraqi Health Ministry said 37 people had died in Baghdad yesterday.
At Al-Ramadi, west of Baghdad, doctors said 10 Iraqis were killed. Near Al-Hillah in central Iraq three Polish troops died in an ambush.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said U.S. and Iraqi forces would eventually end the insurgency.
(Reuters/AFP)
For the latest news on Iraq, see RFE/RL's webpage on "The New Iraq".
His remarks come a day after heavy fighting at several places in Iraq.
Baghdad saw hours of gunbattles following mortar attacks on the so-called Green Zone, which houses the Iraqi interim government and several embassies. The Iraqi Health Ministry said 37 people had died in Baghdad yesterday.
At Al-Ramadi, west of Baghdad, doctors said 10 Iraqis were killed. Near Al-Hillah in central Iraq three Polish troops died in an ambush.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said U.S. and Iraqi forces would eventually end the insurgency.
(Reuters/AFP)
For the latest news on Iraq, see RFE/RL's webpage on "The New Iraq".