PUT-UP TIME.

IRAQ -- Politics & government -- 2003-; NEW democracies; ELECTIONS; POLITICAL development; PRACTICAL politics; DEMOCRATIZATION; ALLAWI, Ayad, 1945-

Barnes, Julian E.; Ozernoy, Ilana; Saleh, Amer

The article looks at the importance of the December 2005 elections in Iraq. Election campaigning is in full swing across Iraq. The vote is a last step in creating a democratic government after the U.S.-led Iraq War. A successful vote could mark a step toward conditions for an American military withdrawal. Sunni parties are participating. Appealing to secular Iraqis, former Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi has put together a coalition. Kirkuk sits atop Iraq's northern oil fields. Whoever controls them will have leverage over Iraq's future.