News and Document archive source
copyrighted material disclaimer at bottom of page

NewsMinewar-on-terroriraqelection-jan-2005 — Viewing Item


Shia and kurdish voters flocked to polling stations { January 30 2005 }

Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
   http://news.ft.com/cms/s/47e18596-72ea-11d9-86a0-00000e2511c8.html

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/47e18596-72ea-11d9-86a0-00000e2511c8.html

Iraqis defy attacks to go to polls
By Roula Khalaf in London
Published: January 30 2005 18:23 | Last updated: January 30 2005 21:08

Shia and Kurdish voters flocked to polling stations across Iraq yesterday to assert their democratic rights after decades of oppression, defying efforts by insurgents to disrupt the vote. But in the first free elections for 50 years, a mixed picture emerged from the Sunni Arab heartland, which has been worst hit by the insurgency.

A higher-than-expected turnout was reported in some towns, including Tikrit, birthplace of deposed dictator Saddam Hussein. But elsewhere, including Falluja and Ramadi, polling stations were deserted.

Initial estimates from Iraq's electoral commission last night put the national turnout at up to 60 per cent, but officials warned this was based on “impressions and feelings” of local officials.

Polling day started with a spate of attacks by mostly Sunni insurgents on polling stations in Baghdad, Basra in the south and Mosul and Samarra in the north, leaving at least 36 people dead.

The death of British troops in a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft that crashed near Balad, some 35 miles north-west of Baghdad, also cast a shadow over the day. The circumstances and number of casualties were unclear, however. The violence failed to damp the enthusiasm of many Iraqis, particularly among the Shia majority and the Kurdish minority, to help choose the 275-member assembly. President George W. Bush, speaking after the polls had closed, declared the elections “a resounding success”. Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, hailed “the emergence of an Iraqi voice for freedom”, though she said many difficulties lay ahead.

Tony Blair, the British prime minister, said it was “moving and humbling” to see the courage of millions of Iraqis vote despite the dangers. Without confirming the number of deaths in the Hercules crash, Mr Blair paid tribute to UK forces in Iraq.

Western experts involved in preparations for the elections said they had witnessed “a breathtaking experience.” One said: “The vote wasn't perfect but it wasn't the debacle that people thought it would be.”

In some parts of the country, US troops joined officials and preachers to call on voters to deal a blow to intimidation and defy calls for a boycott from Sunni Arab parties. Across Iraq, cities were closed to traffic amid extraordinary security measures, and families walked to polling stations. The results may not be known for several days. But the United Iraqi Alliance, blessed by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq's most influential Shia cleric, was expected to emerge as the largest bloc in parliament.

The national assembly will pick Iraq's next government and draft a permanent constitution.

The vote is a turning point for Iraq's Shia, giving them their first chance to influence decision-making in a way that reflects their numbers.

The Kurdish minority is also hoping that a strong showing in the poll will help it enhance its regional autonomy

Yesterday's election was a defining moment for US foreign policy after the divisive invasion of Iraq. A high turnout would represent a rare boost to the White House, helping to change perceptions that Iraq is in danger of spiralling into civil war.

But no one is expecting the elections to have an immediate impact on the level of violence.

“It's the first step in a democratic process,“ Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, said of the elections. “It's the beginning, not the end.”



280 thousand iraqi exiles to vote absentee { January 27 2005 }
30cnd iraq.2 [jpg]
An israeli rediscovers his iraqi roots { January 30 2005 }
Baghdad voting linked to food rations
Behind the scenes aid to candidates { July 17 2005 }
Blair hails iraqi election as blow to global terrorism
Cia sought to influence elections
Confusion surrounds iraq poll turnout { January 30 2005 }
Election complaints emerge in iraq
Gorbachev calls iraqi elections fake { February 1 2005 }
Gunmen kill three iraqi candidates
Insurgents vowing to kill iraqis who brave the polls { January 26 2005 }
Iraq kurdish president calls shiite pm to step down
Iraq shuts down to vote
Iraq suffers bloody day of assassinations and recounts { February 9 2005 }
Iraqi expats in chicago are skeptical
Iraqi kurds vote in droves
Iraqi kurds warns shiite prime minister
Iraqi parliament set to name kurd as new president
Iraqi press under attack from iraq authorities { May 2 2005 }
Iraqi vote shows shiite party leading { February 3 2005 }
Iraqis around the world register for homeland vote { January 24 2005 }
Iraqis brave bombs to vote in their millions
Iraqis danced with joy as they voted sunday
Iraqis report complaints about election irregularities { February 2 2005 }
Kurd is named iraqs president as tensions boil { April 7 2005 }
New iraqi government takes office { May 4 2005 }
On baghdads closed streets a party atmosphere during vote { January 30 2005 }
Poll workers in sunni areas scared off { January 31 2005 }
Procedures for voting in iraqi election { January 22 2005 }
Shia and kurdish voters flocked to polling stations { January 30 2005 }
Shiite cleric sadr doesnt call for election boycott { January 24 2005 }
Skeptics question worth of iraq election { January 28 2005 }
Split vercict in iraq vote sets stage for weak government { February 14 2005 }
Sunni polling stations never opened
Sunnis will vote if US troops leave
Top iraqi candidates wont press for US withdrawal
US avoids politcal fight among iraqis { March 31 2005 }
US funded programs nurture voting process { January 26 2005 }
US says no influence on elections { July 18 2005 }
US tried to influence iraq vote
US troops must stay until iraqis can defeat insurgency { January 26 2005 }
Vietnam 1967 election turnout was good as well { February 1 2005 }
Voting program targets expatriates { January 23 2005 }

Files Listed: 44



Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security
Archives
Support one-state solution for Israel and Palestine Tea Party bumper stickers JFK for Dummies, The Assassination made simple