![Iraqi Electoral Commission sets Jan. 30 for national elections](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] The Iraqi Electoral Commission announced Sunday that it has set January 30, 2005 as the date for national elections. Iraqis will vote for 275 members of a transitional parliament that will pick a new government and draft a permanent constitution to replace the interim document now in force. Once a constitution is enacted, the transitional parliament will be dissolved and new elections held near the end of 2005. Insurgent violence, particularly in Sunni areas of Iraq, has threatened to derail the elections and despite today's announcement is still a potential problem for both the holding and the legitimacy of the vote. The US military has promised to increase troop levels to help secure the January poll. BBC News has more.