Iraq elections must take place: France
* Chirac warns journalists not to go to IraqPARIS: Elections in Iraq planned for Jan. 30 will be difficult but must take place as they are a key step towards the country regaining full sovereignty, French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said on Friday. “They must take place, they can take place,” Barnier told French LCI television. The elections have been threatened by deadly attacks by insurgents, prompting Iraq’s US-backed government to say on Thursday it was extending emergency powers equivalent to martial law for a further 30 days to try to safeguard the vote. France led international opposition to the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein and has refused to send forces there to help restore peace in Iraq. But France is ready to participate in the economic and political reconstruction of Iraq, Barnier said. “Naturally, the maximum number of Iraqis must take part. But this is not the end of the race. Afterwards, there is a constitution and other stages, especially the departure of foreign troops at the end of 2005,” he added. Journalists warned: French President Jacques Chirac on Friday reiterated a formal warning to journalists to stay out of Iraq, expressing concern for a reporter for the daily Liberation who went missing in Baghdad two days ago.Chirac said he was “worried” following the announcement that Florence Aubenas and her Iraqi translator had gone missing after leaving their Baghdad hotel early Wednesday. Paris will use “all possible means” to locate Aubenas, the president told journalists attending a traditional New Year’s reception for the press. “Today, we have no news of your colleague and we are worried. Naturally, we are mobilizing all possible means to obtain information and to find her,” Chirac said. afp
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