United Nations: Iraq has appealed to the international community to send more troops to protect the United Nations staff needed for holding of elections by January 31, 2005 and thwart terrorist attempt to disrupt the poll process.

Terrorists must not be allowed to succeed, Iraq's Deputy Ambassador Feisal Amin al- Istrabadi told the Security Council yesterday (Sep 14, 2004) after questions were raised about the feasibility of holding polls in the face of rising violence.

He asserted that the elections would go ahead but admitted that the 35-member international staffs sent by the United Nations was inadequate.

Al-Istrabadi demanded more UN staff be sent to enable it to organise elections.

Several countries had agreed either to provide security forces to protect UN staff or to provide funding for such operation, al-Istrabadi told reporters outside the Council chamber. But the United Nations virtually contradicted his contention.

UN spokesman Fred Eckhard, in a very cautious reply, said extensive search for contributors of security elements to protect UN personnel and UN compound in Iraq has "not to date produced any definitive agreements with donors."