- Title: GERMANY: IRAQIS CONTINUE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THEIR COUNTRY'S ELECTION
- Date: 24th January 2005
- Summary: (EU) BERLIN, GERMANY (JANUARY 23, 2005)(REUTERS) 1. SLV EXTERIOR OF BUILDING WHERE IRAQI ELECTION REGISTRATION IS TAKING PLACE; MV PEOPLE WALKING INTO BUILDING 2. MV IRAQIS REGISTERING TO VOTE; MV EXILE IRAQIS SITTING AT TABLE / FILLING OUT FORMS; CLOSE OF FORM 1.11 3. SCU POSTER READING (GERMAN): "WHEREVER I AM, MY HEART IS AT MY HOME" 1.22 4. MV PEOPLE LEAVING BUILDING 1.27 5. SOUNDBITE (German) RONDIK AMEDI, EXILE IRAQI, SAYING: "For us as Iraqis it is a great feeling. We have never experienced something like this. This is the first time we can vote - it is great." 1.44 6. SOUNDBITE (German) AZAD AMEDI, EXILE IRAQI, SAYING: "Hopefully we will get a normal government so that there is peace in the country. That would be very nice. This is the reason why we came here because it is the first time that we have the feeling that our vote can help lead to peace. Hopefully there will be a great government. Hopefully we will be able to travel home again then without being afraid or being allowed at all. It is a great feeling." 7. MV EXILE IRAQIS PASSING THROUGH SECURITY 8. SOUNDBITE (German) OMMEED SINDI; EXILE IRAQI; SAYING. "I am very happy with what they are doing here. We came a long way to be here. We travelled from Luebeck. It was a bit far but one has to take the time for something like this. This is unique because we were never allowed to vote before. We were never able to do anything and this is the right time to do so. We feel great." 2.08 7. MV EXILE IRAQIS PASSING THROUGH SECURITY 2.38 8. SOUNDBITE (German) OMMEED SINDI; EXILE IRAQI; SAYING "I am very happy with what they are doing here. We came a long way to be here. We travelled from Luebeck. It was a bit far but one has to take the time for something like this. This is unique because we were never allowed to vote before. We were never able to do anything and this is the right time to do so. We feel great." 3.00 9. SOUNDBITE (German) SULAV AMEDI, EXILE IRAQI, SAYING: "Unbelievable. I am speechless. I thank Germany for this opportunity. This is the first time in our lives that we have the freedom to vote openly and in truth. We have never had this before." 3.22 10. SCU SIGN OF POLLING STATION 3.28 11. SOUNDBITE (German) JAKOB PREUSS, MEMBER OF ELECTION COMMISSION, SAYING: "We have been open all week. We have registered about three thousand people in Berlin. Throughout Germany there were more - in comparison Berlin is a smaller location. More people have registered in Cologne and Munich, quite a few in Mannheim as well. In total about twenty thousand people will register in Germany." 3.47 12. MV PEOPLE LEAVING POLLING STATION 3.52 13. SOUNDBITE (German) JAKOB PREUSS, MEMBER OF ELECTION COMMISSION, SAYING: "There is a lot of joy. The expectations are high and therefore some tension because one has to wait. However, the tension is resolved through song and dance, by seeing each other... 4.16 14. MV PEOPLE REGISTERING 4.34 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 8th February 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BERLIN,GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Reuters ID: LVAE736479QUO15MZGD86GGF739M
- Story Text: Iraqis living in Germany have continued to register
to vote for their country's election on January 30.
Iraqis in Germany eligible to vote registered in
Berlin on Sunday (January 23, 2005) ahead of Iraq's elections on
January 30.
Meanwhile, the registration deadline for Iraqis voting
abroad in their country's election was extended by two days on
Saturday
after only about one in eight of those eligible
to vote signed up during the initial phase.
Rondik Amedi, an Iraqi living in Germany said "For us
as Iraqis it is a great feeling. We have never experienced
something like this. This is the first time we can vote -
it is great."
Another Iraqi, Azad Amedi said: "It is the first time
that we have the feeling that our vote can help lead to
peace. Hopefully there will be a great government.
Hopefully we will be able to travel home again then without
being afraid or being allowed at all. It is a great
feeling."
Iraqi national Ommeed Sindi said: "I am very happy with
what they are doing here. We came a long way to be here. We
travelled from Luebeck. It was a bit far but one has to
take the time for something like this. This is unique
because we were never allowed to vote before. We were never
able to do anything and this is the right time to do so. We
feel great."
And another Iraqi voter, Sulav Amedi, said: "I thank
Germany for this opportunity. This is the first time in our
lives that we have the freedom to vote openly and in truth.
We have never had this before."
A member of the election commission, Jacob Preuss said:
about 3,000 people had registered in Berlin. He said he
expected about 20,000 people to register in Germany.
There are roughly 60,000 Iraqis living in Germany who
are eligible to vote, the estimates for Iraqi exiles living
in the country range from 70,000 to 90,000.
About 11,000 eligable voters live in Berlin, but those
Iraqis living elsewhere in Germany will have to travel to
Berlin, Cologne, Munich or Mannheim to register and then
cast their vote. The majority of voters therefore are
expected to come at the weekend.
Between one million and one and half million Iraqis
outside their homeland are expected to register to vote.
Voting outside Iraq will take place from January 28 to
January 30.
Iraq's interim government and its American allies
insist the poll will go ahead despite a violent insurgency
which threatens to scare away many voters. All Iraqis aged
over 18 on January 1, 2005 can vote. This accounts for a
figure of about 15 million out of a population of 26
million.
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