Iraq elections: 'UN must have more protection'

The UN is hopeful that elections in Iraq can be held on schedule in January 2005 despite escalating violence – but the level of UN electoral assistance will depend on security, the top UN envoy to Iraq says.

Iraq’s new deputy UN ambassador, Feisal Amin al-Istrabadi, warned yesterday that terrorists are determined to disrupt the vote, and he urged the world’s nations to send troops to protect an expanded UN staff which he called essential for holding the country’s first free elections.