Allawi urges Iraqis to vote to decide their future

Iraq's Interim Prime Minister Mr Iyad Allawi appealed to Iraqis of all religions and ethnic groups to defy militant violence and vote in tomorrow's elections.

"Of course our enemies are trying to break us and to break our world, and stop the process of our elections and the political process overall but we are determined to move forward," Mr Allawi told Sky television today in Baghdad.

Insurgents killed 17 people in a surge of violence today, one day before the country's first multi-party elections in half a century. "I ask them (Iraqis) to participate in the elections whether they are inside or outside Iraq: Sunnis, Shi'ites, Kurds, Christians. They should take part because this is the future in the making and people have to take their fate in their own hands."

Higher voter participation is widely expected in areas dominated by majority Shia Muslims and in the Kurdish north. But the vote may be far lower in Sunni areas, where violence has been greatest. Insurgents, who see the polls as a tool of US occupation power, have threatened to kill those who vote or stand as candidates in the polls.

The Iraqi interim government imposed extraordinary security restrictions to try to safeguard the polls, closing land borders and banning travel between provinces. An extended curfew was also imposed in most cities.

Mr Allawi reiterated his position that the US-led coalition forces would remain in the country until the Iraqi police and army were well-trained to face security threats.

"We would not have been able to get to this point if it was not for the sacrifices of the brave British or American soldiers and the rest of the allies ... but the multinational forces ultimately have to go home," he said.

"It is only fair for the Iraqis to shoulder their responsibility and face up to the threats ... but once the level of threats confronting us is acceptable."

Mr Allawi also said he thought security-related cooperation with coalition countries should continue even after their withdrawal from Iraq.