N
Nowhereman
Guest
I don't care how much you hate Bush, this is a historic day for the Iraqis. I don't know how it will all turn out but the fact that 60% to 67% of eligible voters voted is a huge step.
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11:06 am PST, 30 January 2005
Counting has begun in the Iraqi general election which officials are hailing as a great success.
A higher-than-expected 60 percent of those eligible to vote are said to have turned out, in spite of suicide bombings and mortar strikes at polling stations.
The Iraqi Electoral Commission has downgraded its initial estimate of a 72 per cent turnout to about 60 per cent, but says with death threats against anyone who voted, that is still high.
And it says in some Shi'ite areas turnout was as high as 90 per cent.
Candidates from the Shi'ite majority, which was oppressed under the deposed president, Saddam Hussein, are expected to dominate the new assembly.
Sunni Muslim groups, privileged under Hussein, had sworn to boycott the poll.
Meanwhile, at least 33 people have been killed in attacks on election day, mostly in suicide bombings and mortar strikes at polling stations.
Al Qaeda has posted a statement on an Islamist Website claiming its suicide bombers were involved in many of the attacks.
Thousands of Iraqis also voted abroad, in 14 countries.
Organisers say almost 66 per cent of the 280,000 expatriate Iraqis registered have voted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:06 am PST, 30 January 2005
Counting has begun in the Iraqi general election which officials are hailing as a great success.
A higher-than-expected 60 percent of those eligible to vote are said to have turned out, in spite of suicide bombings and mortar strikes at polling stations.
The Iraqi Electoral Commission has downgraded its initial estimate of a 72 per cent turnout to about 60 per cent, but says with death threats against anyone who voted, that is still high.
And it says in some Shi'ite areas turnout was as high as 90 per cent.
Candidates from the Shi'ite majority, which was oppressed under the deposed president, Saddam Hussein, are expected to dominate the new assembly.
Sunni Muslim groups, privileged under Hussein, had sworn to boycott the poll.
Meanwhile, at least 33 people have been killed in attacks on election day, mostly in suicide bombings and mortar strikes at polling stations.
Al Qaeda has posted a statement on an Islamist Website claiming its suicide bombers were involved in many of the attacks.
Thousands of Iraqis also voted abroad, in 14 countries.
Organisers say almost 66 per cent of the 280,000 expatriate Iraqis registered have voted.
