 U.S. forces are destroying Iraq's conditions to hold election: JCP Shii Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Shii Kazuo said that the U.S. forces' attack on Fallujah in Iraq is exacerbating the situation in the country, thus destroying conditions for the Iraqi people to hold a national election. In an interview by Asahi Newstar satellite broadcast aired on January 6, Shii said, "It is necessary to establish a process for Iraqi people to elect their representatives and to set out to reconstruct their country on their own. But U.S. forces have worsened Iraq's situation by militarily cracking down on the people. The U.S. must accept responsibility for the present situation and stop using force against Iraqis." Shii stressed, "The need is to withdraw occupation forces from Iraq in order to pave the way for establishing a U.N.-led framework for assisting in Iraq's reconstruction." (end) |