Iraq regrets lack of UN staff to help with elections

BAGHDAD, Oct 21 (AFP) - Iraq's interim government has voiced concern at the lack of UN officials on the ground to help prepare the country for national elections promised in January.
"It is regrettable to note that the participation of the United Nations (in the preparation) of the elections is not at the required level," Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari was quoted by the local media as saying on Thursday.
"The number of UN experts is no more than 30, while there were more than 300 in Timor," Zebari said.
But the minister reaffirmed the government's determination to hold the elections by the set date of January 31, despite the problems. "Our commitment to these elections is very important for democracy in Iraq," he said.
A spokesman for the country's independent electoral commission, which was set up with help from the United Nations, said his organisation was stretched to the limits and was working under very difficult conditions.
"Yes we need far more UN experts," Farid Ayar told AFP.
"I cannot understand the situation of the United Nations in New York. We hope that we have more experts and monitors before the elections. Every day our work load is increasing ... but our building is very small."
Zebari blamed the deteriorating security situation in Iraq and a lack of enthusiasm within the United Nations for the low presence of the world body in the country.
The dangers faced by foreign workers were underlined by the kidnapping on Tuesday of Margaret Hassan, the British-Irish-Iraqi director of the aid group CARE, which has since announced it has suspended operations in the country.
The minister, however, declared: "We cannot organise these elections without the United Nations."
The foreign minister said it was a moment for the United Nations to gain credibility and added that elections were the best way to put pressure on rebel groups bent on derailing Iraq's political process.
The United Nations pulled out most of its Iraq-based employees after its Baghdad headquarters was targeted in a suicide car bombing in August 2003 that killed 22 staff.