*EPF501 07/02/2004
White House Report, July 2: Iraq, Week Ahead
(Election preparations top priority for Iraqi Government, week ahead) (360)

ELECTION PREPARATIONS TOP PRIORITY FOR IRAQI GOVERNMENT

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters July 2 a top priority for Iraq's interim government is moving forward on holding elections.

According to Iraq's Transitional Administrative Law (TAL), the interim government will run Iraq until an election for a transitional legislature is held. The law states that elections should be held no later than January 31, 2005.

When asked about how security threats would affect the elections McClellan responded, "One of our top priorities, along with the interim government, is to help train and equip Iraqi security forces. The international community is standing firmly with the Iraq people to help them address their security threats."

"We're there to help them in any way that we can and we'll work closely with them to partner with them as they move forward on the reconstruction of their country and holding elections," McClellan said.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Sunday, July 4: President Bush will travel to Charleston, West Virginia, to participate in a July 4 celebration and will return to the White House that evening.

Monday, July 5: NO PUBLIC EVENTS ANNOUNCED.

Tuesday, July 6: President Bush will meet with Iceland's Prime Minister David Oddsson at the White House.

Wednesday, July 7: The president will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, to meet with North Carolina judicial nominees and attend a Victory 2004 reception. The president will then travel to Detroit, Michigan, and meet with Michigan judicial nominees. In the evening, he will attend a Victory 2004 dinner in Bloomsfield Hills, Michigan.

Thursday, July 8: The president with meet with the King Mohamed of Morocco and thenl deliver remarks via satellite to the League of United Latin American Citizens annual convention in Texas.

Friday, July 9: President Bush will participate in an "Ask President Bush" in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, and make remarks in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He will travel that evening to York, Pennsylvania, to deliver remarks at a Bush-Cheney 2004 rally.

Sunday, July 11: President Bush will host a youth tee-ball game at the White House.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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