BREAKING NEWS: SUNNI PARTY DROPS OUT OF IRAQ ELECTIONS

There are growing signs that sectarian violence is about to explode again in Iraq.

The Sunni party has announced they will not participate in next months national elections in Iraq.

Sunni party drops out of Iraq elections
Controversy over legitimacy of vote threatens to re-open sectarian wounds

U.S. troop pullout of Iraq now in doubt.

The Associated Press
updated 10:08 a.m. CT, Sat., Feb. 20, 2010
http://tiny.cc/iecH9

BAGHDAD - Iraq's main Sunni party said Saturday it is dropping out of next month's national elections, seizing on U.S. concerns about Iran's influence in the political process as proof that the vote will not be legitimate.

A statement from the Iraqi Front for National Dialogue stopped short of urging Sunni voters to boycott the March 7 parliamentary election. But the party called on other political groups to join it in withdrawing from the ballot.

Saturday's announcement raises the likelihood that the results of the vote will be called into question. U.S. and United Nations diplomats have expressed fears that a Sunni boycott that hands victory to Shiites would throw the results of the election into doubt. In turn, that could open the door to a new round of violence and delay plans for American troops to leave Iraq.

"The Iraqi Front for National Dialogue cannot continue in a political process run by a foreign agenda," party spokesman Haidar al-Mullah said in a statement, referring to Iran's alleged interference.

He said the party decided to pull out of the vote after U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill and Army Gen. Ray Odierno, the top American military commander in Iraq, each described the Shiite leaders of a candidate-vetting panel as having ties to Iran.