The top United Nations envoy to Iraq has urged the international community to support the internal political process taking shape in the strife-torn country ahead of next week's parliamentary elections and allow Iraq to "normalize" on its own terms.

"I am acutely aware that despite all the talk on how to 'normalize' Iraq, our international prescriptions of 'normalization might not be what Iraqis are seeking," said Ad Melkert, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, in an op-ed in The Washington Post.

"Iraqis have a vivid sense of international interference over their long history," added Mr. Melkert, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). "To break with the past, we must transform international involvement from interference into engagement."

As a first step to advancing this effort, Mr. Melkert called on foreign politicians, diplomats, think tanks and journalists working on Iraqi issues to give the political process leading to parliamentary elections on March 7 the credit it deserves.

He underscored the commitment shown by a large majority of Iraqi citizens and lawmakers in organizing the Council of Representatives elections to conform to standards acceptable to the Iraqi people and its constitution.

"Hurdles have been overcome, including voting in Kirkuk, and Iraqis abroad having gotten their say," said Mr. Melkert. "The constitutional requirement that allegiance to the Baath spirit precludes holding public office has been a more difficult hurdle."

In addition, about 6,000 candidates and a significant number of alternative coalitions and parties are likely to compete for the votes in the upcoming poll, he said, noting that until five years ago the people had no say in their governance.

Seven weeks after a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti, health needs remain great, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said, emphasizing the need for stepped-up disaster risk reduction and early recovery efforts to help the devastated nation.

The scale and complexity of the crisis in the wake of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake means the emergency response phase will continue for months to come, according to the latest health bulletin.

"Many lives have been saved by the speed and generosity the world showed in its first response in the first days and weeks after the earthquake," it said. "Nonetheless, there is still a tremendous amount to be done."

Of the $1.4 billion called for in the revised humanitarian appeal launched last month, $134 million is earmarked for health-related needs.

Needs are continuing to be assessed as the reconstruction process continues, ahead of a meeting later this month bringing together all major partners, including the UN, the Haitian Government, the World Bank and the European Commission.

Dozens of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have set up 160 sites - both fixed and mobile clinics - across Haiti.

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