This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8498111.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Iraq election plans in disarray Iraq election campaigning delayed
(about 4 hours later)
Preparations for elections in Iraq next month have been thrown into disarray by a row over whether to uphold a ban on hundreds of candidates. Iraq's electoral commission has said it will delay the start of campaigning for next month's parliamentary elections.
The candidates were barred because of alleged affiliations with Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath party. The move follows a court decision to overturn a ban on candidates barred because of alleged affiliations with Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath party.
An appeals panel ruled the ban should be overturned, but the government wants it to remain in place and is due to hold an emergency debate on Sunday. An appeals panel ruled the ban should be overturned, but the government wants it to remain in place.
Reports say the start of campaigning for the 7 March poll will be delayed. The political campaign, due to start on Sunday, will now begin next Friday to allow time for the row to be resolved.
A government spokesman said the appeals panel was "illegal and unconstitutional". "The start of election campaigning has been postponed from 7 February to 12 February to give time to the federal court to look into our inquiry," Hamdiya al-Husseini, an official with the Independent High Electoral Commission said.
The delay will allow time for an emergency parliamentary debate, to be held on Sunday, on the court ruling, which the government has called "illegal and unconstitutional".
The election is regarded as a crucial test for Iraq's national reconciliation process ahead of a planned US military withdrawal.The election is regarded as a crucial test for Iraq's national reconciliation process ahead of a planned US military withdrawal.
On Wednesday, the appeals panel ruling overturned a ban on hundreds of politicians from running for public office. On Wednesday, the appeals panel ruling overturned a ban on some 500 politicians from running for public office.
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Baghdad says that although the list of names straddles the sectarian divide, it is Sunni groups who have felt most targeted by the exclusions, and whose voices of protest have been heard loudest.
Post-polls investigationsPost-polls investigations
Baathism is a form of secular Arab nationalism and was the ideology espoused by Saddam Hussein when he came to power.Baathism is a form of secular Arab nationalism and was the ideology espoused by Saddam Hussein when he came to power.
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Baghdad says although the list of names straddles the sectarian divide, it is Sunni groups who have felt most targeted by the exclusions, and whose voices of protest have been heard loudest.
Although a minority, Sunni Muslims were dominant under Saddam Hussein's rule but have since complained of being marginalised under the post-Saddam Shia-led government.Although a minority, Sunni Muslims were dominant under Saddam Hussein's rule but have since complained of being marginalised under the post-Saddam Shia-led government.
The ruling would allow the candidates to stand for election, and be subject to investigation only after the polls.The ruling would allow the candidates to stand for election, and be subject to investigation only after the polls.
US officials had voiced concerns about the ban, fearing that it could inflame sectarian tensions and undermine confidence in the electoral process.US officials had voiced concerns about the ban, fearing that it could inflame sectarian tensions and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
There are still more than a 100,000 American troops in Iraq and the Pentagon's exit strategy depends in large part on a peaceful and credible election, our correspondent says.There are still more than a 100,000 American troops in Iraq and the Pentagon's exit strategy depends in large part on a peaceful and credible election, our correspondent says.