Disorder leaves democracy hanging in the balance

The fledgling Iraqi Government faces many obstacles in a perilous 18-month path to complete freedom, Henza Hendawi reports from Baghdad.

WITH a sovereign government now in place, Iraq begins an 18-month march toward democratic rule but there is a lot to do: organise and hold three national elections, draft a new constitution and hold the insurgents at bay.

If things go according to plan, Iraq will emerge as a democratic state in a region of authoritarian rulers and the US and other foreign troops can go home. But the road is littered with potential minefields.