Iraq's general election set on Jan. 30

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-18 20:31

BAGHDAD -- A senior Iraqi official said Monday that the country's next general election will be held Jan. 30, setting the stage for a vote likely to strengthen the prime minister's hold on power and his efforts to build a government that will rise above sectarian politics.

US forces are scheduled to leave Iraqi cities and redeploy to large bases outside of urban areas by June 30, but they should be available to help Iraqi forces maintain security for the Jan. 30 vote.

An electoral worker carries a sealed ballot box as votes from the nationwide provincial elections are counted at an electoral centre in Baghdad, February 2009. [Agencies]

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is seeking a second term, is after a stronger mandate to forge ahead with his vision of a government that includes all of Iraq's ethnic and religious groups and look beyond the divisive politics of recent years. He has a good chance to build on the success his supporters had in provincial elections held in January.

The legislature received a ruling Monday from the country's Federal Court setting the date, which is about a month later than had been expected, said deputy parliament speaker Khalid al-Attiyah.

The court's ruling was in response to a request for clarification by the 275-member parliament, he told The Associated Press.

Iraq's last general election was held in December 2005, but the elected legislature did not hold its first session until March 2006, prompting the request for a court ruling about when the next election should be held.

Election Commission Chairman Faraj al-Haidari told the AP that Jan. 30 was one of two dates suggested by his organization to the Federal Court. The other date was Nov. 15 this year, he said.

"The commission will be ready," al-Haidari said.

Al-Maliki, a Shiite who is expected to win a second four-year term, had rejected any suggestion that elections should be delayed by one year.

Al-Maliki's supporters had an impressive run in provincial elections held in January this year. Their triumph contrasted with the poor run by some of the prime minister's Shiite and Sunni rivals. Delaying the vote for a year would give them time to regroup and prepare for the next general election.

Maintaining security for the balloting is a top priority for the top US commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, and other high-ranking Pentagon officials. The bulk of the estimated 138,000 American troops in the country are expected to remain in Iraq for the vote.

The withdrawal of American forces from Iraqi cities is part of a security agreement between the two countries that went into effect Jan. 1.

Under the pact, the last American soldier will leave Iraq by the end of 2011.

Separately, police officials in Basra said a senior police officer in charge of training in the southern city's police academy was killed Monday morning by a roadside bomb that exploded near his house.

They identified the officer as Lt. Col. Amjad Khalid.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media.