Jordan rallies support for Iraq poll :: Middle East News and Perspectives

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January 6, 2005

Jordan rallies support for Iraq poll

Topics: Middle East News and Perspectives

BBC News Middle East reports that Jordan is supporting the Iraq election by promoting support from other Arab leaders.

Jordan is hosting a meeting of Iraq's neighbours on Thursday to rally support for Iraqi elections on 30 January.

It wants all the nations present to issue a "clear message" to Iraqis that they should vote in the poll, Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani Mulki said.

However, Iran's foreign minister is boycotting the meeting in protest at comments by Jordan's King Abdullah. The king accused Tehran of meddling in Iraq and trying to create a Shia sphere of influence in the region.

The BBC's correspondent Heba Saleh says the king was reflecting Arab concerns that the elections will hand control of the country to the Shia majority, reversing the long-standing Sunni dominance and allowing Shia Iran to extend its influence.

King Abdullah claimed last month that more than a million Iranians have entered Iraq to vote in the poll.

'Arab character'

Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi will not attend Thursday's meeting but his counterparts from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Syria were expected.

Iran is sending a lower-level delegation to Amman.

Representatives from Iraq, Egypt, Bahrain and the UN are also expected.

Sunni organisations in Iraq have threatened to boycott the election, but Jordan says it wants to encourage as high a turnout as possible.

"The purpose of the meeting is to come out with a clear message to Iraqis that elections are on time and that they should go to vote to... ensure the country preserves its Arab character," said Mr Mulki.