Statement by the Iraqi National Foundation Congress on the Elections

In the name of God, Gracious and Compassionate.

With reference to the 27th October 2004 statement by the Iraqi National Foundation Congress' on the 'elections' intended for next year, in which were listed the necessary requirements for it to be free and fair; and due the absence of any positive response from the relevant bodies regarding those objective requirements:

We declare our boycott of these elections, since it will not express the will of our people and its just demands for independence and sovereignty, through it being conducted on the bases dictated by the order governing the administration of the state in the transition phase, which has been rejected by all political, religious and independent authorities for the grave dangers it implies to the future of Iraq, its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This and the attacks on Iraqi cities, especially the savage massacres in Falluja, categorically preclude sound participation in the political process under occupation and denial of sovereignty. How can a national dialogue and a political process proceed while crimes are being routinely committed against the people?

We in the Iraqi National Foundation Congress declare our commitment to the route of free and fair elections when requirements for its realisation are present. Therefore we call on all our people to boycott it and to turn their back on the disinformation aimed at forcing the process, and to defraud the will of our people in Iraq, through legitimating the plans of the occupation authorities and the unelected government.

Members of the General Secretariat

General Secretary Sheikh Muhammed Jawad Al-Khalisi

Official Spokesman Dr Wamidh Jamal Nadhmi

Organisation of Muslim Clerics

The Arab Nationalist Current

Imam Khalisi University

Democratic Reform Party

United Patriotic Movement

Iraqi Turkumen Front

Iraqi Christian democratic Party

The Islamic Block in Iraq

Office of Sayid Ayatullah Ahmad Al-Hasani

Office of Ayatullah Qasim Al-Tai

Union of Iraqi Jurists

High Commission on Human Rights

Iraqi Woman Society

Iraqi national Foundation Congres

2 Shawal 1425

15 November 2004