13 March 2003
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Nationalist Organizations Speak Out Against War In Iraq
The Ural Bashkir People's Center and several other moderate Bashkir nationalist organizations issued a public statement on 13 March condemning a possible war against Iraq, saying that "military action against [Iraqi] President Saddam Hussein will lead to the genocide of the Iraqi people," an RFE/RL Ufa correspondent reported the same day. The statement also called for the creation of special task forces to deal with the fight against terrorism as opposed to using ordinary armed forces.
Election Campaign Winding Down
Bashkortostan's Central Election Committee announced on 13 March that 385 candidates will vie for 120 seats in the republic's State Assembly during the upcoming election on 16 March, an RFE/RL Ufa correspondent reported the same day. According to the republican Election Code, all campaigning must end on 15 March. Official results are expected to be announced the day after the election.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi