Power struggle in the run-up to the Iraqi general elections could trigger a sectarian conflict in the war-torn country.

More than 225 political entities, parties and individuals have been qualified to participate in the elections, and they have formed alliances to try to have a bigger say in the reshaping of the political arena.

Analysts say that three main coalitions would be competitive in the elections -- the Unified Iraqi Coalition supported by Great Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, the prominent Shiite religious reference; the National Accord Movement headed by Iyad Allawi, the interim prime minister; a coalition formed by the Patriotic Democratic of Kurdistan, headed by Massoud Barzani, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, headed by Jalal Talabani.

The elections, the first of their kind in more than a century, are aimed at forming a national assembly of 275 members, the first task of which would be writing the permanent constitution of Iraq.

Observers claim that there will be bitter conflict on articles of the constitution, which would determine the type of ruling in Iraq.

For the Kurds, they are seeking a federal one, through which they would gain a major role in the ruling and they would expand their control to other areas, especially the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

Kurdish leaders have threatened to fight if Kirkuk was not included to the Kurdish region, while demanding that they have in the new government one of two main positions -- president or prime minister.

Other parties, however, do not agree on the demands, but say that they do not mind that the president or the prime minister has one or even two Kurdish deputies, and the head of the National Assembly (parliament) would be Kurdish.

Moreover, some Sunni organizations, including the powerful Muslim Scholars Association, declared to boycott the elections, while some Sunni organizations and figures announced that they would take part in the elections.

As for the National Accord Movement, the party of Allawi, it works with several political powers and the Gathering of Iraqis, formed by Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawar, the interim president.

December 15 will be the last day for presenting electoral lists to the Independent Higher Commission supervising the organization of the elections.

The commission announced that the elections could not be postponed, and there is no one with the authority to make any amendment that would lead to delay.  

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2004)