Iraq Sets Election Date But Unrest Threatens Poll Hurray... But what does this really mean? Is this the beginning of democracy in Iraq? Or just a chance for the American appointed government to "cement its influence"...

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq (news - web sites) chose Jan. 30 for its first democratic election in decades on Sunday, but violence in Sunni Muslim areas underlined the challenge of holding polls on time.

According to Iraq's timetable for democracy, polls must be held by end-January for a transitional parliament that will pick a new government and oversee the writing of a constitution.

"The Electoral Commission set the date of Jan. 30 as the date of the election," spokesman Farid Ayar told Reuters.

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- david | 1:17 AM