Bush Seen Unlikely to Back Any Delay in Iraq Vote [View All]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush is unlikely to back any delay in Iraq's Jan. 30 election, despite fears the current timetable could risk an outbreak of civil war, analysts and other experts say.

Bush, who views Iraq as a battleground for democracy, has said postponing the vote would give in to insurgents intent on reestablishing the tyranny that prevailed under Saddam Hussein.

White House officials on Wednesday said Bush spoke with Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar about the need for pushing ahead with the polls. Earlier, Yawar suggested he would support a delay.

Administration officials also cite polling data that shows a majority of Iraqis -- Sunni and Shi'ite -- want elections this month and say a delay would only encourage more attacks as insurgents tried to stave off elections permanently.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7247076