KurdistanObserver.com

Massoud Barzani: Carrying Out The Poll Fruitless

January 5, 2005
UPI

Baghdad, Iraq-- Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani Wednesday cast doubt on the feasibility of holding elections in Iraq under prevailing insecurity and mounting violence.

Barzani who heads the Kurdistan Democratic Party was quoted by the party's daily, al-Taakhi, as saying "carrying out the poll under the existing unstable security situation is not feasible and is fruitless."

He stressed, however, that Iraqi Kurds will take part in the elections if the government insists on holding them as scheduled on Jan. 30.

Barzani made the comments as he received a delegation from the Iraqi National Council who visited him in Erbil in the Kurdish enclave in northern Iraq.

He also lashed out at the independent Higher Commission for Elections which he accused of being dishonest and biased.