IRAQ: Good turnout in Iraqi elections to pick local councils in 14 of the country's 18 provinces
Record ID:
1542693
IRAQ: Good turnout in Iraqi elections to pick local councils in 14 of the country's 18 provinces
- Title: IRAQ: Good turnout in Iraqi elections to pick local councils in 14 of the country's 18 provinces
- Date: 1st February 2009
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JANUARY 31, 2009) (REUTERS) IRAQ VICE-PRESIDENT TARIQ AL-HASHIMI WALKING INTO AL RASHEED HOTEL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI VICE-PRESIDENT TARIQ AL-HASHIMI, SAYING: ''This is a culture that we are working to solidify and we are working very hard to develop the citizen's performance in choosing their representatives in office no matter who is in power. The country is in grave need for the votes of the people.'' IRAQI PRIME MINISTER NURI AL-MALIKI SPEAKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AL-MALIKI, SAYING: ''I am very happy because all the evidence speaks of a great turn out of the people in voting and this gives the impression of the confidence of people in their government and it is an indication that the Iraqi people can distinguish. We hope that these councils will help provide a good living for the people because these councils have wide-ranging responsibilities.'' IRAQI OFFICIALS CASTING THEIR VOTES
- Embargoed: 16th February 2009 15:27
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA69EDDV1EQMT5JY1SSBK77GOY4
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Iraq's leadership said on Saturday (January 31) there had been a good turnout by voters in the first election since 2005 to pick local councils in 14 of the country's 18 provinces.
The poll is also expected to show whether Iraqi forces are capable of maintaining peace as U.S. troops begin to pull back, almost six years after the invasion to unseat Saddam Hussein.
The last election took place amid an al Qaeda-inspired Sunni insurgency and was followed by a wave of sectarian slaughter between Iraq's once dominant Sunni Arabs and its majority Shi'ite Muslims.
Officials were hopeful a successful election would help pave the way for a parliamentary vote later in 2009, in which prime minister Nuri al-Maliki will seek to renew his mandate.
After casting his vote in a polling station in Baghdad's Al-Rasheed hotel, vice-president,Tariq al-Hashimi, said they were working hard to establish a credible democracy in Iraq.
''This is a culture that we are working to solidify and we are working very hard to develop the citizen's performance in choosing their representatives in office no matter who is in power. The country is in grave need for the votes of the people.'' al-Hashimi said.
Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki said there had been a strong voter turnout.
''I am very happy because all the evidence speaks of a great turn out of the people in voting and this gives the impression of the confidence of people in their government and it is an indication that the Iraqi people can distinguish,' he said.
Around 14,400 candidates are competing for 440 council seats in a poll made possible by a sharp drop in violence over the past 18 months.
Just under 15 million of Iraq's 28 million people are registered to vote for provincial councils that select powerful regional governors. Three Kurdish provinces are to vote separately and the election in oil-rich, disputed Kirkuk has been put off because no one could agree on election rules. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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