AT LEAST 38 people were killed and 89 wounded yesterday as Iraqis cast ballots for the country’s national parliament.
The largest number of fatalities were in Baghdad where explosive devices demolished two buildings, killing more than 30 people.
Rocket and mortar fire were directed at the fortified Green Zone in the centre of the capital, where senior members of the government voted, and at several voting centres.
Mortars also hit the cities of Ramadi and Falluja in the mainly Sunni western Anbar province, the largest in Iraq, and in Mahmoudiya, a town just south of the capital. On Saturday three Iranian pilgrims died in an attack in the Shia holy city of Najaf.
In a communique on its website, the “Islamic State in Iraq”, an al-Qaeda affiliate, warned voters they were risking their lives by participating in the parliamentary poll.
Prime minister Nuri al-Maliki retorted: “These acts will not undermine the will of the Iraqi people [to participate in the democratic consultation].” He was correct. Although the percentage of voters was not announced, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis were undeterred by the threat. Long lines formed outside polling stations everywhere, particularly in localities populated by Sunnis who boycotted the 2005 parliamentary poll.
According to informal tallies last night, Mr Maliki’s list appeared to have polled well in the Shia south, despite a stiff challenge by political rivals. His State of Law coalition had appeared to do well against its main Shia rival, the Iraqi National Alliance, and a secular Shia-Sunni bloc, Iraqiya, in the holy city of Najaf, in the oil hub of Basra and in Kerbala
Security had been tight during the day in the restive western and central provinces where 200,000 armed police and troops were on duty.
Travel into and out of the country and between provinces was suspended. There was also a ban on the movement of vehicles, compelling voters to walk to polling stations near their homes.
Voters living in troubled areas adopted a grimly defiant attitude toward elements that sought to disrupt the election.
More than 18 million of Iraq’s 27 million citizens were eligible to vote for 6,200 candidates standing for 325 seats in Iraq’s national assembly. Many Iraqis living abroad in 16 countries were also allowed to participate. Their votes will be counted in their native provinces.
While preliminary results were trickling out some hours after the polls closed yesterday evening, the final outcome will not be certified before early April. The make-up of the cabinet could take weeks because no bloc or party can win a majority.
Mr Maliki’s State of Law coalition had campaigned vigorously to propel him back into the top job. But he faces a strong challenge from former premier Iyad Allawi and his secular Iraqiya bloc; and there were three hopefuls on the Shia religious list, including Ahmad Chalabi, once Washington’s candidate to rule Iraq.
The fact that militants were unable to discourage voters should encourage Washington to begin drawing down its 98,000 troops still in Iraq, 50,000 of whom are scheduled to leave before the end of August. – (additional reporting Reuters)