The women took advantage of the national holiday declared for today's election to promenade through the center of this holy Shi'ite city. Shop owners lolled about on carpets by the shrine of Imam Ali, flicking worry beads, bouncing children on their knees, and gossiping with friends. Despite the presence of thousands of special police and Iraqi National Guardsmen, Najaf had the festive air yesterday of a country in celebration. "This is the glorious day Iraqis have been awaiting so patiently," said Raad Abdali, 26, a police officer standing guard at the al-Shekeri Mosque. "Election day will open like a flower, revealing our future."The jovial atmosphere offered a marked counterpoint to much of the rest of Iraq, which has been plagued by anxiety and fear, with an intimidation and bombing campaign targeting voters and polling sites. Najaf is the spiritual capital of Shi'ite Islam, and one of the holiest places for Iraq's roughly 15 million Shi'ites. Yesterday also marked the Shi'ite celebration of Ghadir, which marks the designation of the first Shi'a imam prophet after the Prophet Mohammed.
Thousands of Najafis roamed the streets: Most stores were closed for the holiday, but people took advantage of a crisp sunny day and a city center suddenly free from traffic as a preelection security measure. Firemen handed out lemon taffy to the men and women strolling to the Imam Ali shrine, many of whom shared Abdali's exuberance. "The fall of Saddam [Hussein] was inevitable, but it was not inevitable that there should be elections," declared Maitha Abdullah, 44, a merchant who sells women's purses.