SEVEN PARTIES WITHDRAW FROM IRAQI KURDISTAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

Peyamner news agency website
May 18 2009
Arbil, Iraq

Seven political entities have announced their withdrawal from Kurdistan
Region’s parliamentary election, pro Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)
Peyamner news agency website reported on 17 May.

Peyamner website reported the official in charge of the offices of the
Independent High Electoral Commission in Arbil, Handren Muhammad Salih,
as saying: "Seven political entities have forwarded a formal request
to the Independent High Electoral Commission for their withdrawal
from the election." The website did not indicate the reason for the
parties’ withdrawal from the election.

The website reported the seven entities which have withdrawn from
the election as follows:

"1. Kurdistan Conservative Party

2. Christian Assembly for Brotherhood

3. Toilers’ Independent Party

4. Democratic House of the Two Rivers Party (Bayt al-Nahrayn)

5. The National Party

6. The Independent White List

7. Shal Akob Murad from the Armenian Quota [as published]"

Elsewhere, Sbay website of Wisha media company quoted the head of the
High Electoral Commission in Kurdistan Region, Ali Qadir, as saying
that six political entities have withdrawn from the election, without
mentioning the names of the parties. Qadir added: "The [withdrawing]
parties have decided to run for the parliamentary elections [in
coalition] with other political parties," according to Sbay.