The United Nations says more than 6,000 candidates have registered for Iraq's national assembly elections, set for January 30.
U.N. staffers are helping to organize the voting, which U.S. and Iraqi officials have said will go forward despite the ongoing battle with insurgents and calls for a delay from Sunni Muslim groups.
Last Sunday, three election workers in Baghdad were gunned down in broad daylight.
Campaigning has begun, though the fear of violence has led most parties to rely on radio, television, and newspaper ads.
The candidates are competing for 275 seats in the national assembly. The assembly will be trusted with drafting a new Iraqi constitution and naming a new government to run the country until presidential elections can be held.
