Concern despite welcome for turn-out

Michael Jansen samples Arab media reaction to the election in Iraq.

Michael Jansen samples Arab media reaction to the election in Iraq.

Officials and commentators across the Arab world yesterday welcomed the large turn-out in Iraq's election but tempered enthusiasm with concern over the future.

The main themes of editorial writers in newspapers were the need for a departure of the US-led forces in Iraq, the continuation of violent resistance, and the dangers posed to the mainly Sunni region by the rise of Iraq's Shias.

Jordan's King Abdullah said the election would boost democracy in the Middle East. "I think what we saw yesterday in Iraq is a positive thing," said King Abdullah, a close ally of the US.

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"I think this is a thing that will set a good tone for the Middle East and I am optimistic," he said in the most supportive remarks yet by an Arab leader about the US-backed political process in Iraq. "People are waking up, [ Arab] leaders understand that they have to push reform forward and I don't think there is any looking back," said the king.

The Jordanian government spokeswoman, Ms Asma Khodr, expressed the hope that the elections would "help Iraq achieve stability, reflect the will of all the Iraqi people, and help Iraq to recover its sovereignty".

The Arab League spokesman, Mr Hussam Zaki, said the election was a step in the right direction but observed that it was "a model to be avoided", as it was held at a time of acute instability. The Lebanese politician, Mr Walid Jumblatt, agreed, calling the election a "bizarre model" with candidates' identities remaining secret and the Sunni community largely boycotting the poll.

Al-Ittihad, the United Arab Emirates' official newspaper, said: "Iraqis dealt terrorists and terrorism a heavy blow and were not terrified by threats and criminal operations carried out by rebel groups."

The pan-Arab al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper praised Iraqis for "turning up in large numbers," including Sunnis whose participation "took people by surprise".

Arab News of Saudi Arabia said the poll was "better than no election" even though "all the people may not have spoken". The paper said that a government chosen "by and for the people" rather than one of "appointments" was "what we are waiting for". The al-Jazeera newspaper, which is also based in Saudi Arabia, hoped the election "will restore harmony amongst all the Iraqi sects so that they can start building their country torn apart by the occupation war".

Jordan's moderate al-Rai wrote: "Iraqis will be remembered for being able to decide their affairs through the ballot box, in spite of strong frustrations, threats and interference."

Al-Destour, an independent newspaper in Jordan, took a confrontational line. "The elections were designed to legitimise the occupation, after it lost all justification amongst members of the international community," it maintained. The paper predicted an "escalation of resistance" after the poll.

Focusing on the task of the 275-member temporary national assembly, the English language Jordan Times called upon it to observe international norms when drafting the constitution.

Egypt's al-Jumhuriyah newspaper took a gloomy view, speaking of the "terrifying repercussions" of an election held under foreign occupation, "even if camouflaged by high-sounding slogans".

The Palestinian newspaper al-Ayyam condemned the "supreme democratic ideal", an apparent reference to President Bush's policy of bringing democracy to the Middle East. The paper said: "History in Iraq and the neighbouring region will change after the elections, just as President Bush predicted. But in a retrograde manner. He will take control of the central government and of the oil, leaving [ Shia] Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani and his like autonomy. . . that will turn Iraq into a chicken coop."