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Iraqis go to polls amid conflict, threats, floods Iraqis go to polls amid conflict, threats, floods
(about 9 hours later)
RAMADI, Iraq — Iraqis voted Wednesday in the first elections since the withdrawal of U.S. troops , even as parts of the country remained engulfed in conflict, others drowned under floods, and the specter of terrorists’ bomb threats loomed over polling stations. RAMADI, Iraq — Iraqis voted Wednesday in the first elections since the withdrawal of U.S. troops, braving terrorists’ bomb threats to polling stations as parts of the country remained engulfed in conflict.
The parliamentary elections come amid a hemorrhaging security situation as a Sunni insurgency against the Shiite-led government in the western province of Anbar pushed closer to the capital Baghdad. The parliamentary elections come amid a deteriorating security situation, as a Sunni insurgency in the western province of Anbar against the Shiite-led central government pushes closer to the capital, Baghdad.
Cars were banned from the streets across the country to deter violence as voting began at 7 a.m. In Anbar’s provincial capital of Ramadi, intermittent explosions could be heard as the polls opened. Cars were banned from streets across the country to deter violence as voting began at 7 a.m. In Anbar’s provincial capital, Ramadi, intermittent explosions could be heard as the polls opened.
The incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is seeking a third term in office, after successfully securing the premiership during Iraq’s two previous elections. Maliki is a front-runner, but no party is expected to secure a majority, meaning the winner will have to secure a coalition in order to form a government. Incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is seeking a third term, is a front-runner. But no party is expected to secure a majority in parliament, meaning that the winner will have to build a coalition to form a government.
Maliki’s flailing popularity may have been bolstered by his offensive in Anbar, rallying Shiite support behind him as the army fights hostile Sunni tribesmen and terrorists from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, an al-Qaeda inspired group, who have exerted control over parts of the province. Maliki’s declining popularity may have been bolstered by his offensive in Anbar, where he has rallied Shiite support as the army fights hostile Sunni tribesmen and terrorists from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. The group, inspired by al-Qaeda, has exerted control over parts of the province.
The violence is expected to prevent many from casting their votes -- with more than 400,000 displaced in Anbar this year, according to the United Nations. ISIS has threatened politicians, and rights groups have raised concerns about the potential for vote rigging in the province amid the chaos. But in doing so, Maliki has taken a gamble. As deaths among security forces stack up, analysts say it is only a matter of time before the toll begins to erode his support. At least 172 Iraqi soldiers, police officers and armed allied tribesmen died in violence in April, according to an Agence France-Presse tally — out of 777 deaths across the country.
Adding to the sense of uncertainty, thousands have been displaced by flooding, which has washed away entire villages and submerged Abu Ghraib after a dam was attacked. The violence is expected to prevent many from casting their votes. More than 400,000 people have been displaced in Anbar this year, according to the United Nations.
In Anbar, it’s not just the violence that is expected to keep people from the polls — but deep dissatisfaction with a political process from which they feel alienated. ISIS has threatened politicians, and rights groups have raised concerns about the potential for vote rigging in the province amid the chaos.
Residents complain of being cut off from their political representatives, who they say seldom visit the province. Adding to the sense of uncertainty, thousands have been displaced by flooding, which has washed away entire villages and submerged homes in the Abu Ghraib district after a dam was attacked.
Nearly 22 million voters are casting ballots for more than 9,000 candidates after lively campaigning the past month.
Under tight security checks in the capital, voting progressed relatively peacefully in the morning. However, a roadside bomb killed two people in the northern province of Kirkuk.
In Anbar, some residents say participation has also been hurt by a lack of strong candidates who would speak up for Iraq’s Sunni minority.
Early indications were that turnout would be low in Anbar, where Sunnis are in the majority. Just 15 percent of the 3,098 voters registered at a primary school near the center of Ramadi had voted by midday.
Ismail Abed, 47, who was displaced from the city of Fallujah four months ago, said he has not yet decided on a candidate.
With nowhere else to go, a small room in the school building where voters came to cast their ballots in now home for his family of seven. He hopes for change.
“Maliki is against the Sunnis 100 percent,” he said, then added: “Our country has a lot of oil, but look at me,” pointing to his dusty, worn clothes. “I’d prefer the American occupation; it’s better than Maliki’s occupation.”
Anbar’s residents complain of being cut off from their political representatives, who they say seldom visit the province.
“The old politicians didn’t represent anyone, but we hope the new ones will,” said Ramadi-based Tariq al-Assal, a former police general who is running for parliament for the first time. “But we are afraid of falsification of the voting.”“The old politicians didn’t represent anyone, but we hope the new ones will,” said Ramadi-based Tariq al-Assal, a former police general who is running for parliament for the first time. “But we are afraid of falsification of the voting.”
Even Iraq’s acting defense minister, Saadoun al-Dulaimi, who is defending his seat in Ramadi, has a bleak view of the democratic process. Even Iraq’s acting defense minister, Sadoun al-Dulaimi, who is defending his seat in Ramadi, has a bleak view of the democratic process.
“It is very difficult for any society to establish a good democracy when it is surrounded by chaos and by premature institutions,” he said. “We need to clean our country from the terrorists first, and after that the opportunity is there for us to build a nation according to a solid basis.” “It is very difficult for any society to establish a good democracy when it is surrounded by chaos and by premature institutions,” he said. “We need to clean our country from the terrorists first, and after that, the opportunity is there for us to build a nation according to a solid basis.”