WASHINGTON – President Bush discussed the upcoming Iraqi national elections on Tuesday with interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi (search), the latest in a series of consultations with Iraqi leaders ahead of Sunday's polling.
They talked about election preparations and "about how the election will be a historic moment for the Iraqi people," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.
The vote this coming Sunday to pick a 275-member National Assembly (search) is an important test for Bush's mission to spread democracy through the Middle East, and comes amid continuing fierce fighting between police and insurgents seeking to derail the elections.
"We're going to do all we can to support the Iraqi people as they move forward on building a democratic and peaceful future," McClellan said.
It was the sixth time that Bush has consulted with leaders from Iraq (search) in recent days about the Jan. 30 elections.
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