Iraq: UN envoy condemns killing of female election candidate

8 February - The leading United Nations official in Iraq today strongly condemned the assassination of a female candidate in the northern city of Mosul ahead of the start of the electoral campaign for the 7 March general elections.

Ad Melkert, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), warned that incidents such as yesterday's killing of Suha Abdullah Jarallah, a 36-year-old Sunni woman, cannot be tolerated

“Campaign violence in Iraq must not be allowed to intimidate candidates or interfere with the right of every Iraqi to exercise their vote,” Mr. Melkert said in a statement issued by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

He added that the Iraqi people and candidates must be allowed to participate in the election process, undeterred by violence, harassment and intimidation.

Campaigning for the March elections is scheduled to begin on 12 February.