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Iraq calm after election results UN hails Iraq election results
(about 2 hours later)
Iraq remains peaceful following the announcement of provincial election results, which show strong support for Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's party. The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has made a surprise visit to Iraq to congratulate voters there on the outcome of nationwide local elections.
There had been fears of violence when the preliminary results of Saturday's vote came out on Thursday. After talks with political leaders in Baghdad, Mr Ban said the vote showed how far Iraq had come.
The ballot in 14 of the 18 provinces was the most peaceful in Iraq since the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein. However, he said there was still a long way to go before Iraqis could claim to have "genuine freedom and security".
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Friday for talks with leaders. Allies of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki swept to victory in Baghdad and key provinces in last Saturday's poll.
The United Nations played a key role in helping the Iraqis prepare and run the elections - seen as a test of stability before a general election, due later this year. The United Nations played a key role in organising the elections - seen as a test of stability before a general election, due later this year.
The BBC's Jim Muir, in Baghdad, says that like everyone else, the UN is heaving a huge sigh of relief that both the polling day itself and the announcement of the results passed off with virtually no violence at all. The BBC's Jim Muir, in Baghdad, says that like everyone else, the UN is relieved that both the polling day itself and the announcement of the results passed off with virtually no violence at all.
Celebratory moodCelebratory mood
Election commission preliminary results announced on Thursday showed Mr Maliki's State of Law coalition had made spectacular gains in southern Muslim Shia areas. Election commission preliminary results announced on Thursday showed Mr Maliki's State of Law coalition had made spectacular gains in southern Shia areas.
The coalition won 38% of votes in the capital Baghdad and 37% in Iraq's second city Basra - curbing the previous dominance of rival Shia parties. PM Maliki's coalition won by huge margins in Baghdad and Basra
IRAQI ELECTIONS 2003: US appoints Governing Council2004: Governing Council elects interim governmentAug 2004: National conference elects interim national assemblyJan 2005: First general elections for transitional national assembly and provincial councils - Sunnis boycott voteDec 2005: General elections for first full-term government and parliamentJan 2009: Elections for provincial councils - key test of security gainsLate 2009: General elections due class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7851297.stm">Iraq voices: provincial elections class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7856618.stm">Iraq: Key facts and figures The coalition won 38% of votes in Baghdad and 37% in Iraq's second city Basra - curbing the previous dominance of rival Shia parties.
Meanwhile, the once-dominant Sunni Arabs regained political power in other parts of the country - having boycotted the 2005 election.Meanwhile, the once-dominant Sunni Arabs regained political power in other parts of the country - having boycotted the 2005 election.
There were fears of violence in the mainly Sunni flashpoint province of al-Anbar, where tribal leaders had threatened to take up arms over the result.There were fears of violence in the mainly Sunni flashpoint province of al-Anbar, where tribal leaders had threatened to take up arms over the result.
In the event, they came in just half a percentage point behind another Sunni party to which they are allied.In the event, they came in just half a percentage point behind another Sunni party to which they are allied.
Ban Ki-Moon was expected to hold talks with Mr Maliki as well as Iraqi President Jalal Talabani while in Baghdad. IRAQI ELECTIONS 2003: US appoints Governing Council2004: Governing Council elects interim governmentAug 2004: National conference elects interim national assemblyJan 2005: First general elections for transitional national assembly and provincial councils - Sunnis boycott voteDec 2005: General elections for first full-term government and parliamentJan 2009: Elections for provincial councils - key test of security gainsLate 2009: General elections due class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7851297.stm">Iraq voices: provincial elections class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7856618.stm">Iraq: Key facts and figures
He will "reiterate the UN's commitment to the country," and "above all congratulate the Iraqi people on the success of largely violence-free elections," UN spokesman Said Arikat told the AFP news agency. Mr Ban was expected to hold talks with Mr Maliki as well as Iraqi President Jalal Talabani while in Baghdad.
He will "reiterate the UN's commitment to the country", and "above all congratulate the Iraqi people on the success of largely violence-free elections", UN spokesman Said Arikat told the AFP news agency.
The election was an extraordinary achievement in a country that has been wracked by violence for the last nearly six years, our correspondent says.The election was an extraordinary achievement in a country that has been wracked by violence for the last nearly six years, our correspondent says.
Healthy and peaceful political competition, and change through the ballot box, have become the name of the game, he adds.Healthy and peaceful political competition, and change through the ballot box, have become the name of the game, he adds.
Just over half of Iraqis voted in Saturday's election, lower than some had predicted.Just over half of Iraqis voted in Saturday's election, lower than some had predicted.
Final results are not expected to be known for weeks.Final results are not expected to be known for weeks.