 FIGHTING broke out yesterday at Sydney polling booths where expatriate Iraqis cast their votes for today's historic election in the strife-torn country. Police cordoned-off Queen St, Auburn, after a violent scuffle broke out between supporters of terrorist leader Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi and advocates of democracy. Minutes later, a rucksack found abandoned outside the polling station sparked a bomb scare.
Hopefully the coppers are busy rounding up the Zarqawi scum even as we speak blog... |
Police evacuated the polling station, the Auburn Hotel next door and the Turkish Weekly News opposite, closing the street until they confirmed the bag was harmless. A polling centre security spokesman, who asked not to be named, said: "These protestors were supporters of Al-Zarqawi and Al-Qaeda and they did not support the American invasion of Iraq. They were trying to stop people from voting and they were pulling down posters and shouting slogans.
| If you shout slogans you don't have to think up any statements that make sense... |
"When the punches started flying I immediately called 000. Then we had the bomb scare. With the Iraqi ambassador here we couldn't take any chances." The spokesman said at least two people received minor injuries. Police made no arrests.
| Offer them donuts. Sometimes that works. |
In Fairfield, where another polling station was set up, voting went more smoothly. Unfazed by the choice of 7800 candidates from 111 parties and coalitions, most were just happy to vote. Iraq Out Of Country voting co-ordinator at Fairfield, Bronwyn Curran, said 3128 voters cast their ballots on Friday, with another 3000 cast yesterday. "People have been weeping, people have been kissing the polling booth staff - there has just been a general feeling of jubilation."
| Until the hard boyz showed up... |
Seguan Abubakir has lived in Fairfield for two years after moving here from northern Iraq with his parents and three siblings. "I feel hope now for all Iraqi people to live together as equals. The (former) Iraqi regime killed too many people," he said. There are 11,860 Australian Iraqis registered to vote in the election, voting finishes today. |