Iraq Voter Turnout Placed at 72 Percent

[bodypilot90 0]

By MARIAM FAM, Associated Press Writer

Quote

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqis danced and clapped with joy Sunday as they voted in their country's first free election in a half-century, defying insurgents who launched eight suicide bombings and mortar strikes at polling stations. The attacks killed at least 36 people.





An Iraqi election official said that 72 percent of eligible Iraqi voters had turned out so far nationwide. The official, Adel al-Lami of the Independent Electoral Commission, offered no overall figures of the actual number of Iraqis who have voted to back up the claim.

After a slow start, men and women in flowing black abayas — often holding babies — formed long lines, although there were pockets of Iraq (news - web sites) where the streets and polling stations were deserted. Iraqis prohibited from using private cars walked streets crowded in a few places nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with voters, hitched rides on military buses and trucks, and some even carried the elderly in their arms.

"This is democracy," said Karfia Abbasi, holding up a thumb stained with purple ink to prove she had voted.

Officials said turnout appeared higher than expected, although it was too soon to tell for sure. Iraqi officials have predicted that up to 8 million of the 14 million voters — just over 57 percent — would participate.

In a potentially troublesome sign, the polls at first were deserted in mostly Sunni cities like Fallujah, Ramadi and Samarra around Baghdad, and in the restive, heavily Sunni northern city of Mosul.

Clashes had erupted between insurgents and Iraqi soldiers in western Mosul. And in Baghdad's mainly Sunni Arab area of Azamiyah, the neighborhood's four polling centers did not open, residents said.

A low Sunni turnout could undermine the new government and worsen tensions among the country's ethnic, religious and cultural groups.

A Web site statement purportedly from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's group claimed responsibility for election-day attacks in Iraq, although the claim could not be verified. The Jordanian militant is said to be behind many of the suicide car-bombings, kidnappings and beheadings of foreigners in Iraq, and his group vowed to kill those who ventured out to vote.

Casting his vote, Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi called it "the first time the Iraqis will determine their destiny."

Turnout was brisk in Shiite Muslim and mixed Shiite-Sunni neighborhoods. Even in the small town of Askan in the so-called "triangle of death" south of Baghdad, 20 people waited in line at each of several polling centers. More walked toward the polls.

Rumors of impending violence were rife. When an unexplained boom sounded near one Baghdad voting station, some women put their hands to their mouths and whispered prayers. Others continued walking calmly to the voting stations. Several shouted in unison: "We have no fear."

"Am I scared? Of course I'm not scared. This is my country," said 50-year-old Fathiya Mohammed, wearing a head-to-toe abaya.

At one polling place in Baghdad, soldiers and voters joined hands in a dance, and in Baqouba, voters jumped and clapped to celebrate the historic day. At another, an Iraqi policeman in a black ski mask tucked his assault rifle under one arm and took the hand of an elderly blind woman, guiding her to the polls.

In Ramadi, U.S. troops coaxed voters with loudspeakers, preaching the importance of every ballot.

The election is a major test of President Bush (news - web sites)'s goal of promoting democracy in the Middle East. If successful, it also could hasten the day when the United States brings home its 150,000 troops. More than 1,400 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, including a U.S. Marine killed in combat Sunday in Iraq's restive Anbar province. No details were released on the latest death.

Security was tight. About 300,000 Iraqi and American troops were on the streets and on standby to protect voters, who entered polling stations under loops of razor wire and the watchful eye of rooftop sharpshooters.



Private cars were mostly banned from the streets, forcing suicide bombers to strap explosives to their bodies and carry out attacks on foot.

The governor of the mostly Sunni province of Salaheddin, Hamad Hmoud Shagti, went on the radio to lobby for a higher turnout. "This is a chance for you as Iraqis to assure your and your children's future," he said.

Shiite Muslims, estimated at 60 percent of Iraq's 26 million people, were expected to turn out in large numbers, encouraged by clerics who hope their community will gain power after generations of oppression by the Sunni minority.

A ticket endorsed by the country's leading Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, is expected to fare best among the 111 candidate lists. However, no faction is expected to win an outright majority, meaning possibly weeks of political deal-making before a new prime minister is chosen.

The elections will also give Kurds a chance to gain more influence in Iraq after long years of marginalization under the Baath Party that ruled the country for 34 years.

"This proves that we are now free," said Akar Azad, 19, who came to the polls with his wife Serwin Suker and sister Bigat.

Iraqis in 14 nations also held the last of three days of overseas balloting on Sunday, with officials in Australia extending polling station hours because of an earlier riot and bomb scare. More than 70 percent of the 281,000 registered overseas voters had cast a ballot, al-Lami of the Independent Electoral Commission said.

Speaking in Nigeria, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) called Sunday's balloting "the first step" toward democracy. "It's a beginning, not an end," he said.

Final results of the election will not be known for seven to 10 days, but a preliminary tally could come as early as late Sunday.

One U.S.-funded election observer said early reports pointed to smoother-than-expected voting, despite the violence.

"We're hearing there has been fairly robust turnout in certain areas," said Sam Patten, a member of the Baghdad team of the International Republican Institute.

The chief U.N. adviser to Iraq's election commission, Carlos Valenzuela, also said turnout seemed to be good in most places.

"These attacks have not stopped the operations," Valenzuela said.

Asked if reports of better-than-expected turnout in areas where Sunni and Shiite Muslims live together indicated that a Sunni cleric boycott effort had failed, one of the main groups pushing the boycott seemed to soften its stance.

"The association's call for a boycott of the election was not a fatwa (religious edict), but only a statement," said Association of Muslim Scholars spokesman Omar Ragheb. "It was never a question of something religiously prohibited or permitted."

In the most deadly attack, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a polling station in western Baghdad, killing himself, three policemen and a civilian, officials said. Witness Faleh Hussein said the bomber approached a line of voters and detonated an explosives belt.

In a second suicide attack at a polling station, a bomber blew up himself, one policeman and two Iraqi soldiers. In a third suicide attack at a school in western Baghdad, three people and the bomber died, police said.

And in a fourth, at another school in eastern Baghdad, a suicide bomber killed himself and at least three others. Another five people died in other suicide attacks.

Also, a suicide bomber blew himself up near the home of Iraq's justice minister in western Baghdad in an apparent assassination attempt. The minister was not home but the attack killed one person, an Interior Ministry official said.

The rest were killed in shootings and explosions in several communities north of Baghdad.

Overall, eight of the 36 people killed were suicide bombers.

In addition, three people were killed when mortars landed near a polling station in Sadr City, the heart of Baghdad's Shiite Muslim community. Two others died when a mortar round hit a home in Amel, and a policeman died in a mortar attack on a polling station in Khan al-Mahawil, south of Baghdad.

In Mosul, the province's deputy escaped an assassination attempt, but his bodyguard was killed.

looks like the Bush was right and the lefties were wrong. Way to go troops your hard work is paying off and freedom is available for more of the world and that world is a little better.

[rhino 0]

Kick ass. I'm glad the people stood up to the terrorists. It looks as if the Iraqi people have had enough...

[bodypilot90 0]

looking to my left.....where are the lefties

I hope they are dancing in the street like the people in Iraq are. The good new once again is the bad new was wrong.

[EBSB52 0]

Quote

looking to my left.....where are the lefties

I hope they are dancing in the street like the people in Iraq are. The good new once again is the bad new was wrong.

And things won't revert when the US troops pullout? Mhhh-huh. Didn't we learn from Rusia's trip to Afghanistan?

[EBSB52 0]

An Iraqi election official said ...

nuff said...

[bodypilot90 0]

Quote

And things won't revert when the US troops pullout? Mhhh-huh. Didn't we learn from Rusia's trip to Afghanistan?

funny thing is I never remember them having free and open election in afghanistan, nor dancing in the streets. When the "USSR" was there. Can you give me a link on that? I didn't think so.

[miked10270 0]

Quote

looking to my left.....where are the lefties

I'm over here - been left handed all my life!

The BBC quotes Iraqi election officials claiming over 60% turnout.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4220551.stm

Overall the election has been a success (apart from some Sunnis who preferred it when they ran the government).

I'm pleased that the election has been a success... BUT... Iraq is atill an artificial country and it'll take more than this to stop the country tearing itself into three!

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[ahegeman 0]

This is great news, and it has gone much better than I expected. I think any people when given a real chance at freedom will take advantage of it. The real proof will come over the next year as the new democratically elected government takes charge. I hope all goes well.

Forget the Sunnis. As has been noted in many other places, nobody saw Afrikaner turnout as a test of the legitimacy of the South African elections.

---------------------------------------------------------------
There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'.
--Dave Barry

[penniless 0]

It's a pity Americans don't turn out in such large numbers.

[bodypilot90 0]

funny how everyone but you and maybe kerry think this is a good thing?

[Frenchy68 0]

Quote

Iraq is atill an artificial country and it'll take more than this to stop the country tearing itself into three!

Very good point. In terms of geo-politics, it is going to be a very interesting era to watch develop. While keeping an eye on the Turks...

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[shropshire 0]

Hi - Let's all hope that it works ... but hold back some enthusiasm, it's a little early to be jumping for joy yet.. this is only the first step on a very long journey.

The quoted figure of 72% turnout appears a little high for a first count .. I guess that time will tell.

When Iraq get a truely represenatative governining body (probably wont be this time around - but it's a start), let's hope that the rest of the world leaves them alone to run their lives as they see fit.

.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[bodypilot90 0]

from the reports (both on the news and men on the ground) I have seen it seems like Iraqis are not splintered as some would have you think. One thing most of us will agree, time will tell.

[bodypilot90 0]

yes it is. I have voted in every election since I was 18.

[Frenchy68 0]

Quote

I think any people when given a real chance at freedom will take advantage of it.

Interestingly enough, in the early 90's, Algeria conducted its first free elections. The muslim radicals, who campaigned on a strict theocracy platform (implying the removal of free elections in the future), won!

Quote

Forget the Sunnis. As has been noted in many other places, nobody saw Afrikaner turnout as a test of the legitimacy of the South African elections.

The Sunnis represent a fairly important chunk of the population of Iraq. Leaving them out of a government would create exactly what the terrorists want: a good old civil war.
I do agree that turnout is great news though.

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[shropshire 0]

Same here in the UK ..... You could always make it a legal requirement to vote but whoops.... that wouldn't be democratic.

You have to let the peeps make up their own mind.

I guess that over here (and over there in the US), it's not a novalty to vote and in the main there isn't much difference between the parties concerned. But In Iraq, voting's a new concept to them and they need to get involved... wish them luck.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[GQ_jumper 4]

An Iraqi election official said ...

nuff said...
***

would you please step up and tell us what you mean by this statement. nuff said....

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

[ahegeman 0]

Quote

Interestingly enough, in the early 90's, Algeria conducted its first free elections. The muslim radicals, who campaigned on a strict theocracy platform (implying the removal of free elections in the future), won!

I'm not too familiar with Algeria, so I won't argue with you there, but I think my statement is still true in general. Besides, what society could possibly be sane after 130 years of French occupation.

Quote

The Sunnis represent a fairly important chunk of the population of Iraq. Leaving them out of a government would create exactly what the terrorists want: a good old civil war.
I do agree that turnout is great news though.

Of course they are important, and it would be preferable if they were on board with the elections, but since when is the dissatisfaction of a previous ruling minority with a new democracy supposed to be the standard by which the "legitimacy" of the election is judged?

---------------------------------------------------------------
There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'.
--Dave Barry

[Frenchy68 0]

Quote

Of course they are important, and it would be preferable if they were on board with the elections, but since when is the dissatisfaction of a previous ruling minority with a new democracy supposed to be the standard by which the "legitimacy" of the election is judged?

Since it is could be a possibility that the Sunni would decide to split from the Shiite. Or ask for a similar status as the Kurds. The problem with countries such as Iraq, in my opinion, is that they have been drawn on a map using a ruler and pencil, not always taking into account cultural differences and affinities. As much as a country such as Iran can find a strong identity into the Persian culture, I am not convinced that there is such a concept as a strong Iraqi identity yet. And although it is certainly developping, having a good percentage of the population not feeling they "belong" could lead them to focus more on some micro-identity. Much like some of the Republics of the former Soviet Union went their own way (most rather peacefully, some still trying). To me, this is something to take very seriously into consideration. Look at Chechnya...

Quote

I'm not too familiar with Algeria, so I won't argue with you there, but I think my statement is still true in general. Besides, what society could possibly be sane after 130 years of French occupation.

I would actually tend to agree that French Occupation has a part to play in the actually fucked up situation that is Algeria. Even if other factors have come into play since. But some of the problems we are experiencing today with the clashes between Arab muslim and westerners can certainly be somehow traced to the colonial powers that were.

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[PhreeZone 20]

Actually.. I'm not quite sure that this is so much higher then American %'s. Reports of only 40-45% of the total population was registered to vote were out only 2 weeks ago. I think those numbers were about 12 million total registered out of 22 million in the country. With only 60-70 % of those turning out that puts the voting number at about 8.5 million voting. Thats still a very large number of people voting which I'm really glad to see. Overall though its about 39% of the population voting for and controling the vote.

The US has a population of about 293 million. About 118 million voted in this last election. That gives about a 40% turn out. Both the population figures include those under voting age also (CIA Numbers).

I'm happy that the elections were so successful and hopfully this is at least one step down the path towards Iraqi self control.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[shropshire 0]

Actually PhreeZone makes a valid point ..

If the quoted 72% was of the registered voters ... you'd kind of expect that figure to be closer to 100%... after all they only recently registered and were pretty brave to do that in the circumstances!

So, what is the turn out as a percentage of the Total Eligible electorate? That's the really important figure.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[skydyvr 0]

Quote

And things won't revert when the US troops pullout? Mhhh-huh. Didn't we learn from Rusia's trip to Afghanistan?

Congratulations on being the first liberal to drop a turd into a post dedicated to a very positive event.

. . =(_8^(1)

[rhino 0]

I for one couldn't be more proud of the Iraqi people for voting. I watched on the news as they danced in the streets celebrating! It was great to watch!

Well done troops.. Well done Iraqi people... The insurgents are loosing their foothold in a big way.

• Quote

[bodypilot90 0]

Quote

Congratulations on being the first liberal to drop a turd into a post dedicated to a very positive event.

must be great to be a Iraqi today

did you see the blurb about the son bringing his mom in a wheel barrow to vote?
must suck to be a nay sayer today eh?

[mccurley 1]

Quote

The insurgents are loosing their foothold in a big way.

I would wish this was true.
I don't think they will give up so easily.
A large percentage of them don't come from Iraq and are there for their own aggenda which have little to do with voter turn outs or the free will of people to determine thier own future.
Job well done to all the troops and individuals who have risked life and limb to bring this day about and congratulations to the people of Iraq.

Watch my video Fat Women
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRWkEky8GoI