Elections Organizers Battle Security Fears

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Along with their monthly ration of sugar, rice and flour, Iraqis are receiving a piece of paper promoted as a key to a democratic Iraq (news - web sites): a voter registration sheet.


Like many things in this country, however, the voter registration process has been overshadowed by bombings, kidnappings and a military assault launched to pacify the insurgent-stronghold of Fallujah ahead of the January vote.


Providing security for the election is a major challenge. And so is educating the public that lived for decades under a dictatorship that tightly controlled information and brutally crushed dissent.


"The Iraqi voter doesn't understand the elections," said Farid Ayar, spokesman of the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq. "Seventy-four percent of the people think this is a presidential election," he added, citing one survey.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=2&u=/ap/20041115/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_elections

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