Iraqi Defense Minister hints at election delay. Hazem Shaalan said in Cairo that he had asked Egypt to try to persuade Sunni Muslims to participate in the January 30 vote, which was expected to usher Iraq’s long-suppressed Shiite Muslim majority into power. “We could postpone the date to let all Iraqis go to the polls in one day” if that would accommodate Sunnis, Shaalan said. (scotsman.com)