[Previous entry: "Zarqawi Says He Conducted Embassy Blast"] [Next entry: "Iran, Calling Bush's Words 'Threats,' Says It Is Not Intimidated"]

01/19/2005:

"Iraqis Can Vote in Battered Falluja - - U.S. General"

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thousands of Iraqis have returned to the former insurgent stronghold of Falluja and will be allowed to vote inside the city in Iraq's Jan. 30 national election, a senior U.S. Marine general said on Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. John Sattler, speaking in a videoconference from Falluja with Pentagon reporters, said residents of the nearby city of Ramadi, another restive area of the so-called ``Sunni Triangle,'' will also be allowed to vote there.

But Sattler refused to disclose how many polling places would be set up in the two cities in al Anbar Province or where they would be, hoping to avert possible attacks on voters.

``If you're in Falluja, you'll be able to vote in Falluja. If you're in Ramadi, you'll definitely be able to vote in Ramadi ... It will be safe. It will be secure,'' said the general, commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force based in al Anbar Province.

``I'll leave it at that for now. We have not even put the word out to the Iraqi people. We're going to hold that until right down to the bitter end to ensure that the enemy does not have much time at all ... to plan against those positions,'' Sattler said.
Full Article: nytimes.com/reuters

How many 'thousands' have returned to Fallujah? 3? Leave it to the US to stage the most ridiculous 'free and fair' election yet-