For Immediate Release
October 28, 2004

Global Message

The Iraqi people will choose which parties and coalitions they want to govern their country when they cast their historic ballots in January 2005.

The United States Government is not invested in the victory or defeat of any Iraqi candidate or party, and instead supports the peaceful participation of all Iraqis committed to achieving security and democracy for their country in the political process.

Hundreds of political parties have been formed in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Iraqi politicians -- not the UN, other countries, or the United States -- will determine coalitions for the upcoming vote.

Iraq is seeing signs of developing a healthy political process, including consolidation and coalition-building among these newly formed political parties. In most developed democracies, a relatively small number of political parties contest elections on a regular basis.