First post-Saddam elections cancelled by British

Amid disorder at polling booths, allegations of rampant corruption in the choosing of candidates, and locals barely aware of a vote taking place, the elections have been "postponed indefinitely".

The embarrassment follows criticisms that the armed forces should wait for professionals to organise elections in the chaos of post-war Iraq.

Captain Emma Welch, part of the British force in Umm Qasr overseeing the ballot, said: "We really want these elections to take place and know the Iraqis are eager to take the running of the port into their own hands. But we don’t want to rush things though until proper democratic foundations are laid."

British forces were attacked for handing power over to an interim administration in Umm Qasr too quickly. The council has been riddled with corruption and accused by Iraqis of embezzling funds.

Council members either nominated themselves or family members to stand for election, while only a small proportion of the town’s 45,000 inhabitants had registered to vote. "It doesn’t bode well for the future," said one British soldier on patrol.

"There seems to be a political will to get elections going which doesn’t reflect the situation on the ground. We’ve got to be careful not to get their hopes up."

At Umm Qasr’s town-centre market, few locals even knew an election had been proposed. Mohammed Sardoun, a stallholder, said: "I am not concerned about elections. They are something to think about after we have food and running water. These are more important than democracy. It’s a good idea but doesn’t mean much."

Two months after the liberation of Umm Qasr, electricity and water supplies are intermittent and crime rife on the streets at night.

And the election campaign of one current member of the council suggested few things would change in Umm Qasr.

Salim al-Kanaan drove regally around the town centre in his car. "That’s my cousin who is in charge of law and order," said one man. "I will be voting for him whatever happens because he will give me a job."

Mr al-Kanaan said: "I don’t have to do much because everyone knows who I am. Of course democracy means I may not be elected but I don’t expect that to happen. This is how we do things."

The US administration that governs most of Iraq is struggling with similar problems.

After two chaotic attempts to fashion a national assembly, Washington yesterday unveiled its plans to appoint members to a ruling council instead.

In Baghdad, thousands of former Iraqi soldiers swarmed US headquarters demanding to be paid, after the Iraqi military was ordered to be dissolved in favour of a new "Iraqi Corps" while a group of tribal leaders warned the Americans they could face war if they did not leave soon.