Yahoo! News - Iraq Sets Election Date But Unrest Threatens Poll
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq chose Jan. 30 for its first democratic election in decades on Sunday, but violence in Sunni Muslim areas underlined the challenge of holding polls on time.

According to Iraq's timetable for democracy, polls must be held by end-January for a transitional parliament that will pick a new government and oversee the writing of a constitution.

"The Electoral Commission set the date of Jan. 30 as the date of the election," spokesman Farid Ayar told Reuters.

Iraq's Shi'ite majority, which was oppressed under Saddam Hussein and hopes the election will cement its influence, is insisting that the polls be held on schedule.

But many Sunni Arabs want the election to be delayed and say they will boycott it if it goes ahead in January. Sunni Arab areas of Iraq have been the main battleground in the conflict between U.S.-led troops and insurgents trying to drive them out.

Never fear folks, the pre-programmed Diebold machines are on the way.

And the winner is......George Bush!