U.S.: Iraq working on election controversy

BAGHDAD, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Iraqi leaders are working on resolving a controversy in which 511 electoral candidates have been disqualified, an aide to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says.

Anthony Blinken, Biden's national security advisor, told reporters in Baghdad Friday that Biden is encouraged Iraqi political leaders are discussing the controversial move by Iraq's Shiite-led government, in which minority Sunni Muslims accused of ties to former President Saddam Hussain's outlawed Baathist Party were taken off the ballot.

"Our sense is the Iraqis are working on this, they are seized with this," Blinken said. "They have the institutions to work this out."

He said Biden and the U.S. delegation visiting Iraq based their optimism on "two things. One, based on what they told us both in conversations with the vice president and conversations with Ambassador (Christopher) Hill, and other senior members of the embassy team."

Secondly, he said, "the fact that the appearance is at least that everyone is talking to everyone, which is usually a sign that people are working toward a solution."

U.S. officials have said rooting out Baathists should be done in a transparent manner, voicing concerns about the scope and timing of the disqualifications in the run-up to March 7 elections.