The United State said on Wednesday that it welcomes international organizations and independent international election observers to monitor the Iraqi elections scheduled for Jan. 30.

The Electoral Commission of Iraq has invited the Arab League, the Islamic Conference, the Organization of African Unity, the Organization of American States, the European Union , the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to monitor the elections, the State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters.

"We would welcome all these organizations and especially the OSCE to help monitor the elections," he said.

Referring to the prolonged and troubled security problems that might delay the planned elections, Boucher noted that the securityenvironment for the Iraqi elections is improving.

"There are plenty of plans by the multinational forces to buildup and to try to maintain a secure environment for these elections," he said, but he did not give further details.

In addition to military measures, Boucher said, the US is also providing substantial support for the Iraqi election effort.

"We've already provided more than 40 million dollars to the independent electoral commission to help conduct the elections," Boucher said, adding "Japan has provided 40 million dollars. The European Union is providing 38 million dollars for the election efforts.

Source: Xinhua