He has also been faulted for failing to predict the strong showing of the nationalists in the Dec. 12 elections.

The effort comes as political leaders await the results of the Dec. 15 election, which will determine the shape of the next government.

Such is the state of Iraqi politics just three weeks before the Dec. 15 elections for a full, four-year government.

But other moves to create a broad anti-Islamic political front before the Dec. 26 elections came to nothing.

The group previously said that based on early indications, the Dec. 15 election appeared to have "generally met international standards."

It will most likely be months before a coalition government is formed out of the Dec. 15 elections.

Its chairman also gave the final results of the Dec. 7 election, in which no candidate won an outright majority.

The decision came less than a week after the commission - ruling on a technicality - barred the party from the Dec. 17 elections.

Violence is expected to spike as the Dec. 15 elections near and each group vies for political power.

With the trial under way and the Dec. 15 elections for a full, four-year government approaching, American generals said they expected the violence to increase.