BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- In Iraq, students and Shiite political parties are backing the country's forthcoming national elections. And a spokesman for interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi says the government is sticking by the January 30 date after receiving assurances from the Electoral Commission that the poll could take place, even in Sunni areas where militants are active.

In Baghdad's al-Mustansiriyah University many students say holding the elections on January 30, as planned, would improve the security situation in Iraq, CCTV.com reported Monday.

And the country's Independent Electoral Commission says it's up to the task.

Abdul-Hussein Al-Hindawi, Head of Independent Electoral Commission, said: "The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq has taken all necessary measures to hold the elections on time and it has prepared all logistical and administrative measures so that the elections can be held, as planned, on January 30."

The spokesman for the Shiite Political Council says his organization and other parties are in favor of going ahead with the elections as scheduled.

But a senior member of the Iraqi Labour Communist Party criticized the interim government and the Shiite clerics for calling for elections when Iraqi cities are being bombed and people are being killed.

Improved security is also a concern of Iraqi Sunni Arab politicians who are requesting a delay. They also want more time to persuade Sunni clerics to drop their demand for a boycott

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