Iraqi premier: It may not be safe to vote in some areas

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Prime Minister Ayad Allawi publicly acknowledged for the first time Tuesday that parts of Iraq probably won't be safe enough for people to vote in the Jan. 30 elections, and he announced plans to boost the size of the country's army from 100,000 to 150,000 men by year's end.

Violence persisted, with at least 16 Iraqis killed in two bombings and the seizure of trucks carrying new Iraqi coins. A U.S. soldier was killed in action in Iraq's volatile western Anbar province, the military said.

Allawi discussed preparations for the election by telephone with President Bush on Tuesday, and both leaders underscored the importance of going ahead with the vote as planned, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

Allawi said at a news conference that "hostile forces are trying to hamper this event."

"Certainly, there will be some pockets that will not be able to participate in the elections for these reasons, but we think that it will not be widespread," Allawi said.

Anbar province - a vast area that stretches from west of Baghdad to the Jordanian, Syrian and Saudi borders - and the northern city of Mosul have seen little preparation for the vote because of tenuous security.

The capital also is experiencing an increase in insurgent activity, and residents of some districts may be reluctant to vote for fear of attacks on polling stations.

Others have cited concerns about the balloting. Late last week, Air Force Brig. Gen. Erv Lessel, the deputy chief of staff for strategic communications, said there were two provinces that give the Americans "significant concern" - Anbar, which includes the city of Fallujah, and Nineveh, which includes Mosul. He said the Americans were taking "aggressive action" to make sure the vote can be held there.

On Tuesday, Jordan's ambassador to Washington, Karim Kawar, warned that more than 40 percent of Iraqis would be unable to participate in the vote. "This raises questions about the authenticity of the elections," he said.

The election will be held under the system of proportionate representation, and there will be no electoral boundaries. Organizers have said those unable to cast ballots in troubled areas would be allowed to vote elsewhere.

Iraq's long-oppressed majority Shiites have embraced the election, which is expected to formalize their new status as the most dominant group in racially and religiously diverse Iraq. In contrast, the insurgency is led by members of the Sunni Arab minority. Some Sunni leaders say it is far too dangerous to hold the election this month, while influential clerics from the community are calling for a boycott.