Baghdad (AINA) -- In an interview with the Iraqi satellite TV Sharqiya, Hikmat Hakim, an Assyrian (also known as Chaldean and Syriac) politician running for office under the Chaldean Council List (391), said that Christians are afraid to go to the polls because of the recent spate of murders in Mosul. According to Mr. Hakim, 14 Christians have been killed in the last ten days and more than 300 families -- nearly 2000 people -- have fled Mosul as a result (AINA 3-1-2010).

It is not known if the persons who have fled Mosul can cast their votes from other localities.

Mr. Hakim said he had visited Assyrians in Zakho and Dohuk, in north Iraq, and was informed that the Kurds had been heavily pressuring the Assyrians to vote for the Assyrian Chaldean Syriac People's Council (390), a Christian party backed by the Kurds and lead by Assyrian Sargis Aghajan, the Kurdish Minister for Finance and Economy.

There are 5 seats reserved for Christians in Iraq. Vying for these seats are 48 Christian candidates from 5 parties (AINA 3-1-2010), as well as 26 Christians belonging to other, non-Christian parties.