Iraq Sunnis, Secular Groups Demand Review

[cal04]

Sunni Arab and secular groups refused Thursday to open discussions with the Shiite religious bloc leading in
Iraq's parliamentary elections until a full review of the contested results is carried out. Their refusal could deepen the political turmoil following a U.N. observer's endorsement of Iraq's Dec. 15 elections. The official said the results were credible and that the results should stand.

"We are not taking part in discussions," said Nasser al-Ani, a senior official in the main Sunni Arab coalition — the Iraqi Accordance Front. Preliminary results from the vote have given the governing Shiite religious bloc, the United Iraqi Alliance, a big lead — but one which still would require forming a coalition with other groups. Al-Ani told The Associated Press that his political group favored participating in broad-based coalition government, but would not begin contacts "until we get a clear picture about the results of the investigation."

Mehedi al-Hafidh, a senior member of the secular Iraqi National List headed by former Shiite Premier Ayad Allawi, raised similar concerns. "We confirm that we are not part of this process of consultations to form a new government," al-Hafidh told The AP. The U.N. endorsement came on Wednesday after opposition groups demanded international intervention and an independent review of more than 1,500 complaints about irregularities.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051229/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq