Iraqi govt. must be supported – UN chief

BAGHDAD /Iraqi News UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday stressed support for the Iraqi government that will be formed based on the results of the recent legislative elections in the war-scourged country. “The voting in Iraq was held despite the threats that only attest that the Iraqi people boast a strong will to have stability,” Ban said during an address before the 22nd Arab summit, currently in session in the Libyan city of Sirte. Meanwhile, the top UN official in Iraq had said on Friday that the country’s parliamentary elections this month were credible and no evidence has been found of any systematic or widespread fraud during the vote count. Ad Melkert, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Iraq and the head of the UN political mission (known as UNAMI) to the country, said in a statement that Iraqis deserved credit for “an historic achievement.” The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) of Iraq unveiled the results tonight local time for the national polls on 7 March, in which more than 6,000 candidates competed for 325 seats in the Council of Representatives. At least 12 million people cast their votes. Media reports indicate that the party headed by Iyad Allawi, the former prime minister, holds a narrow lead over the party of Nouri al-Maliki, the current premier, in the number of parliamentary seats won. Melkert called on all candidates to accept the results of the polls and “to assume responsibility to lead Iraq to the next stage of democracy, stability and prosperity for all. Whether winning or losing, participation in the elections has been a collective victory.” UNAMI assisted IHEC with advice and support during the pre- and post-election process, and the Special Representative said the independent authority carried out its responsibility of staging the elections with dedication. “No election in the world is perfect. There were imperfections and at some places serious issues. We condemn acts of intimidation that have occurred in the course of the process.” In his statement Melkert said UN officials were confident that the counting process contained the necessary checks and balances, and “there is now a solid basis for ratification by the Supreme Court” of the results. AmR (I) 1