Mumbai: Undeterred by latest rounds of attack from United States and United Kingdom, Iraq would go ahead with its Presidential elections scheduled for next month, Iraqi Ambassador to India, Salah-al-Mukhtar said on September 7.

"We will go ahead with our elections," Mukhtar told reporters.

He said among others, President Saddam Hussain-led "Baath (Renaissance) Party" would be in the contest against several other parties including two Kurdish outfits including the second largest party Democratic Kurdistan Party and a few Marxist groups.

"The communist party is at present operating from outside," he said.

The envoy said that the government has recently allowed the citizens to float new political parties.

"They only have to inform the country's Home Ministry for a formal permission," he said.

He said Iraqi authorities would invite media, religious leaders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from India to visit Iraq during elections.

PTI