Neighbours urged to help Iraq poll

By Peter Biles
BBC World affairs correspondent

The holiday resort was turned into a high-security zone

"This is the time to help Iraq," says US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Many would argue that the help has come too late and that Iraq needed much more assistance 18 months ago, immediately after the end of combat operations.

Nevertheless, this week's conference in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh brings together members of the Iraqi interim government, Iraq's neighbours, G8 foreign ministers and other regional groups.

Together they are seeking broad support for Iraq at one of the most critical periods since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

With elections scheduled for 30 January there is an vital need to end the insurgency, stabilise the country before the elections and create an atmosphere more conducive to political and economic reconstruction.

"Last January, at the time of the handover to the interim government, the Iraqi reaction was one of cynicism," says a senior British official.

"But as the situation becomes 'more real' with the registration of political parties, attitudes have shifted."

Doubts over Iran

The focus of the conference in Sharm el-Sheikh is of regional co-operation.

We don't have the same co-operation between the Iraqi interim government and the Iranian government Colin Powell Q&A: Iraqi elections

Arab foreign ministers met on Monday evening to consider what future role they can play.

Speaking en route to the Middle East, Colin Powell said Syria had been a little more co-operative "on the cross-border situation between Syria and Iraq."

However, he was less upbeat about Iran.

"It's a little less clear to me what may be moving across the Iran-Iraq border, and we don't have the same level of co-operation taking place between the Iraqi interim government and the Iranian government", said Mr Powell.

British officials stress the importance that the 30 January elections take place "as close as possible to the timetable".

Election questions

While the US-led offensive against insurgents in Falluja has been under way this month, preparations for the elections have been continuing elsewhere.

About 120 political parties and individuals have been registered, and the registration period may be extended beyond the end of November in order to include the widest possible representation.

Eighty percent of electoral offices in Iraq have been opened. Falluja is one obvious exception.

Colin Powell has promised a "strong message" from the meeting

The Sharm el-Sheikh conference is a move towards ensuring that broad participation.

However, behind the scenes there is not huge optimism about the political process, with some concerned that the Sunni community will not be adequately represented in a national vote.

So there are still question marks over the holding of the elections.

Last week Sunni Muslim politicians called for a postponement until there was an improvement in the security situation.

And Barham Saleh, the deputy prime minister, also questioned whether elections at the end of January were feasible.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has promised "a strong message" from the Sharm el-Sheikh meeting.

But a draft copy of the final communique, seen by the BBC, only outlines future political developments in the broadest terms as already laid down in UN Security Council resolution 1546.

Not for the first time important deadlines are looming in Iraq and the atmosphere is one of hope rather than expectation.