A top UN official in Iraq expressed his deep concern on Wednesday about the decision to postpone the governorate council elections in the provinces of Anbar and Ninewa in the Middle East country.

Martin Kobler, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Iraq, said "there is no democracy without elections," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said here at a daily news briefing. "The citizens of these provinces are looking forward to these elections with great hope. They should not be disappointed."

"The United Nations calls upon the Iraqi government and electoral commission to ensure elections can take place as scheduled in a peaceful and secure environment," Nesirky said.

Asked whether there would be prosecutions for war crimes with regards to the war in Iraq, the UN spokesman said the United Nations does not prosecute individuals. The International Criminal Court, he noted, is an independent body separate from the United Nations.

Preparations are under way for the holding of the governorate council elections in all 14 provinces on April 20. According to media reports, the Iraqi cabinet decided to postpone the polls in Anbar and Ninewa, for a maximum period of six months, due to security concerns.

Kobler, who is also head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), noted that the Independent High Electoral Commission ( IHEC) is continuing the technical preparations for the polls in all the provinces.

"The United Nations calls upon the government and IHEC to ensure elections can take place as scheduled in a peaceful and secure environment," Kobler said.

In a recent report, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended the new Board of Commissioners of the IHEC for its professional and timely preparations for the April 20 polls, and encouraged all stakeholders to ensure that the elections be held "in accordance with the current timeline, in a peaceful and orderly manner and free from violence." Endi

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