BAGHDAD (Dispatches) – The leader of the Fatah (Conquest) Alliance in Iraq’s parliament has blasted the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Jeanine Antoinette Plasschaert, over what he described as her interference in the October 10 parliamentary elections.
“We have had great cooperation and good relationship with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, and believe in its positive role. Our confidence has, however, started to erode in the wake of violations committed by the current head of the mission. She has got in the way of elections process and results as if she is the head of the [Independent High] Electoral Commission,” the Arabic-language al-Sumaria television network quoted Hadi al-Amiri as saying.
“Iraq has not accepted and will not accept any such representative. She must stand committed to her primary duties,” he noted.
Amiri made the remarks during a meeting with the European Union’s ambassador to Iraq, Ville Varjola, at his office in Baghdad.
The senior Iraqi legislator voiced grave concern over attempts to derail the path of democratic governance, transparent elections and peaceful transfer of power in the Arab country.
He said ongoing demonstrations and sit-ins in Iraq over “fraud” at recent parliamentary elections are the most peaceful and orderly protests since 2003.
Earlier this month, security forces attacked protesters in Baghdad, who were demanding a manual recount of the votes cast in the elections.
According to the Iraqi Health Ministry, 125 people were injured during the clashes. Some reports said up to three people were killed as well.
A total of 329 seats were up for grabs in the election. More than 3,240 candidates were running, including 950 women.
Influential cleric Muqtada Sadr’s Sairoon coalition won more than 70 seats, which, if confirmed, could give him considerable influence in forming a government.
Sadr said on Wednesday that he will not participate in any coalition government, reiterating his position on forming a “national majority” government.
He said during a meeting with independent candidates, that he prefers to join the opposition than enter into any coalition government.