Electoral Commission rejects Maliki’s suspension order

[k98nights]

Electoral Commission rejects Maliki’s suspension order

23/06/2011 12:12

Sulaimaniya, July 23 (AKnews) – The Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq (IHEC) has refused to comply to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s order to suspend its work.

Zyad Zarb - deputy in the al-Iraqiya list led by Maliki’s electoral rival, Ayad Allawi – said yesterday that the PM has ordered the suspension until the commission’s structure is revised, effectively stripping it of any authority to conduct regional elections such as the forthcoming Kurdistan provincial poll in the meantime.

Meanwhile, IHEC head Faraj Haidari has challenged the PM’s authority to issue such an order.

“The commission is independent and only answerable to parliament,” he told AKnews, adding that Maliki “cannot interfere with our internal affairs”.

“We have our own law in the commission and we work according to them”.

Haidari said that the commission will meet today to prepare an official address to the Iraqi PM and parliament to clarify on the reasons behind the order.

He said the body – founded in 2004 - would not suspend its work and will meet with UN representatives on Friday to discuss the imminent elections in the Kurdistan region.

By Idris Abu-Bakir

Lh/Ka/AKnews

http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/248107/

[HYDRANT]

THANKS K98

[af4mi]

Very good. Maybe 'Saddam-lite' may be taught a lesson in DEMOCRACY. He can't run the entire show his way, like happened prior to '03. Good for the Commissioner!!!!

[Butifldrm]

Is Allawi in Iraq, or in a hospital in London with colon cancer?