Pakistan elections delayed

Hello, it's Wednesday, January 2, 2007. I'm Rebecca Field in for Kristin Volk today with a UPI headline update.

Officials say parliamentary elections in Pakistan will be delayed. Members of The Election Commission of Pakistan says they'll be pushed back until February 18. Voting was supposed to take place on January 8. This comes following the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Since her death, the country has been filled with violence and rioting. Several election offices have been destroyed as a result of the riots.

With the Iowa caucuses right around the corner, one poll shows Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee are leading the way. The most recent poll out by the Des Moines Register shows Obama has the support of 32% surveyed while Senator Hillary Clinton is at 25%. Former Senator John Edwards is following close behind. The poll also shows Huckabee has a six point lead over Mitt Romney. But Iowa is still anyone's game, a large percent of voters are apparently undecided.

Violent riots and civil unrest is continuing in Nairobi, Kenya following the recent elections. At least 50 people, many of them children were found burned in a church fire there. Victims were apparently seeking refuge from the violence at the church. Riots erupted following the recent presidential election results. President Mwai Kibaki was re-elected, beating out Raila Odinga but a slim lead. At least 148 people have died since results were read.

Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is apparently trying to appeal to Christian conservative voters. He's released a commercial in Iowa where he is standing in front of a Christian fish symbol. In the ad Huckabee is addressing the Iowa Christian Alliance, discussing his pro-life position on abortion. With the Iowa caucus tomorrow, he's looking to grab undecided voters.

That's all for now. Check out a new special report on upi.com called nothing but hope. Thanks for watching.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Pakistan
• elections
• Iowa
• caucus
• brack
• obama
• hillary
• clinton
• mike
• huckabee
• kenya
• africa
• violence
• female
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[aprillh]

Bush is an idiot, but what was the choice really?!? John Forbes Kerry is an empty suited windbag. I know; he's my former senator. I can't stand Bush and he is an idiot, but don't hold that against all Republicans! McCain is looking better every day after we hear what a phony Obama is...

[fromthispoint]

I would not vote for a Rep George W Bush has distroyed the Rep Party forever...George W Bush was a President of change for sure,he ruint the Reps forever I dought a Rep forever thanks to Bush...the man that distroyed the Rep Party in the United States!

[xMrRockstar]

Cool Vid ^^/

[sneeoosh2]

nice sweater plunge

[themightylex]

Good reporting and relaying! You make a great sub/anchor.

I hope the US elections can reassure the world that hope is not lost.