Sunni party pulls out of Iraqi election, citing out-of-control insurgency
BAGHDAD, Iraq The largest Sunni Muslim political party is pulling out of next month's Iraqi elections -- dealing a blow to U-S hopes for credibility at the polls.
The leader of the moderate Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party says the security situation has gone "from bad to worse" and must "be dealt with."
The party's secretary general says "when a house is on fire, you should first put out the fire before working on decorating and arranging it."
But the party says it would consider taking part in a future ballot.
Senior Sunni leaders want elections postponed until the fighting dies down. But the U-S is struggling to go ahead with the first free voting since the overthrow of Iraq's monarchy 46 years ago.
Shiites comprise about 60 percent of Iraq's population, with Kurds and Sunni Arabs making up 20 percent each. Many fear the election wouldn't be legitimate if Sunnis don't vote.
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www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=2736815
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