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Iraq-Jordan
Shias and Kurds set to grab top posts in Iraq
2005-02-13
The two electoral powerhouses representing Iraq's Shia and Kurdish communities are poised to clinch the countr's two top jobs, with results from the landmark January 30 polls expected any time. "Looking at the partial results, it appears that the Sistani list will have more than 50 percent and that Kurdish parties will come second," said Sunni politician Saad Abdel Razzak. "They should therefore share the posts of president and prime minister between themselves."

Partial results announced on Monday showed that the Shia coalition backed by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani had obtained 2,244,237 out of 4,366,843 votes counted, or 51.4 percent of ballots cast. It could even improve this score when the rest of the polling stations in remaining Shia-dominated southern provinces are counted, securing around 140 out of the National Assembly's 275 seats. Meanwhile, a very high turnout in the northern Kurdish areas also guarantees the joint ticket formed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) a strong presence in parliament and plum posts in the government. With 1,075,534 votes, the Kurds are emerging as the second political force in the country, ahead of the Iraqi List of incumbent prime minister, Iyad Allawi. More counting in the Kurdish province of Arbil should ensure the Kurdish bloc retains its edge on challengers and secures around a quarter of all seats in parliament.
Posted by:Fred

#2  You snooze, you lose.
Posted by: mojo   2005-02-13 10:14:35 PM  

#1  Gee... looks like the Sunni's only managed to pee in their *own* punchbowl. looks now they will have to drink it down.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2005-02-13 11:08:27 AM  

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