Saturday, January 29 2005 12:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: Amidst continuing violence in Iraq, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has warned insurgents against intimidating voters and disrupting elections scheduled for tomorrow (Jan 30, 2005) and urged voters to go to polling booths in large numbers.

"To those who seek to disrupt the democratic process, let me say that there can never be justification for murder or intimidation of voters, candidates and elections workers," he said in a video taped pre-election message to Iraqis.

"Don't deny to Iraqis who choose to vote, their right to do so in freedom and safety. Elections are the best way to determine any country's future; please exercise your democratic rights on Sunday, Whatever your feelings about how the country reached this point, this election offers an opportunity to move away from violence and uncertainty toward peace and representative government," he told Iraqis.

Asked whether Annan in the message made a deliberate effort to avoid using either invasion as some Iraqis call the American military action or liberation as some American call it, Chief UN spokesman Fred Eckhard replied, "He said what he said and I don't think we need to analyze what words were not used in that statement."

Stressing that elections are a crucial first step towards a free and stable Iraq, Annan urged Iraqis to come together to rebuild the country on democratic foundations.

In this context, he stressed the need for a national dialogue after the elections and "an inclusive political process" in which as many Iraqis as possible play an active role.