Iraq-report

Enthusiasm for vote in Baghdad

Article published on the 2009-01-31 Latest update 2009-02-01 16:19 TU

Campaign posters on the walls of Baghdad
(Credit: C. Verlon / RFI)

Iraqis went to the polls on Saturday in their first elections since 2005 to elect councils in 14 of the country's 18 provinces. "People are really really willing to vote, to express their vote," says RFI's Farida Ayari, covering elections on the ground in Baghdad. Turnout is expected to be high, especially in comparison to the first polls, which were boycotted by Sunni Arabs. Security is high in and around polling stations, especially after three candidates and two campaign workers have been killed since Thursday.

"This is a test for Iraqi leaders to rebuild Iraq to give to the people basic needs," said RFI's Farida Ayari in Baghdad. "Most of the voters were telling me this morning they voted for power, they voted for water, they voted for jobs."

Voter turnout will be measured as an indicator of the Iraqi people's confidence in their government and government mechanisms, according to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

There are more than 14,400 candidates battling for 440 seats in councils. The councils appoint the provincial governor and are involved in their area's finance issues and reconstruction needs.

Their determiniation is evident, according to Ayari. "Today they are walking a long ways (to vote) because it's forbidden for vehicles to move around the country, so they are walking to the polling stations," she said.

After walking to the polls, some voters have not found their name on the rolls, and must walk around to find the correct place to vote.

"For the first time...people are not only voting for parties, they can choose individuals, and this is very important," she added.

Some 15 million people are registered to vote."I am very happy today because all our information shows that we are going to see a large participation in the vote by Iraqis," said al-Maliki.

Obviously US President Barack Obama "will watch the results, and believes that the provincial elections this weekend mark another significant milestone in Iraq's democratic development," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Friday.

Officials have sealed the borders, closed the airports and have imposed a curfew in an effort to avoid secuirty problems.

Omar Faruq al-Ani, a candidate from the Iraqi Concord Front party, the main Sunni group, was killed in Baghdad on Thursday. Another Sunni candidate was killed in Mosul, and a third candidate representing a miwed Sunni, Kurd and Shi'ite party was killed near Baquba.

Four flash bombs were reported to have gone off around various polling stations on Saturday, but police said there were no casualties.

The United Nations and the country's electoral commission is organising the elections. Some 800 international observers are overseeing the voting.

Police, soldiers, hospital patients and prisoners cast their votes on Wednesday to cut down on the voter fraud and logistical problems that hampered the 2005 elections within the country.

Even Muntazer al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at former US President George W. Bush in protest, was reported to have voted. He is currently being detained and faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted of charges of "aggression against a foreign head of state during an official visit."

Voting is not taking place in three Kurdish provinces, however.

First results are expected on Tuesday.