AP: Iraqis Vote, 31 Die In Attacks

[Hissyspit]

(Sorry... found this update after I posted the 27 number.)

Iraqis Vote in Election, 31 Die in Attacks

Sunday January 30, 2005 12:16 PM
By MARIAM FAM
Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqis danced and clapped with joy Sunday as they voted in their country's first free election in a half-century, defying insurgents who launched eight deadly suicide bombings and mortar strikes at polling stations. The attacks killed at least 31 people.

After a slow start, men and women in flowing black abayas - often holding babies - formed long lines, although there were pockets of Iraq where the streets and polling stations were deserted. Iraqis prohibited from using private cars walked streets crowded in a few places nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with voters, hitched rides on military buses and trucks, and some even carried the elderly in their arms.

``This is democracy,'' said Karfia Abbasi, holding up a thumb stained with purple ink to prove she had voted.

Officials said turnout appeared higher than expected, although it was too soon to tell for sure. Iraqi officials have predicted that up to 8 million of the 14 million voters - just over 57 percent - would participate.


MORE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4766054,00.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DeaconBlues]

2. Sure

Your sources are saying that turnout was at 109%. And the WMD's are just outside of Tikrit. And chocolate rations were up 57% last month. Whatever you say, Chalabi.

[Mark H]

8. I think someone is pulling your leg

really really hard.

[Rockholm]

9. "You're" getting reports? That's rich.

[TahitiNut]

10. Isn't it early to be eating Chinese fortune cookies?

Sounds like your "sources" are drinking Flavor-Aid. :eyes:

[ismnotwasm]

11. Even if the turnout was that high,

If I were an Iraqi, I'd want to get this vote behind me, so maybe, just maybe, some of the violence would stop. I don't know who YOUR sources are, but mine say the Iraqi's are a traumatized people living in a war zone, never knowing when the next car is going to explode or the next assignation is going to happen. I would love to see a democratic Iraq. I would love even more to see a country were people aren't living in fear. How long before this new government is disrupted with more killing? The "turnout" isn't the point. The Iraqi's are an admirable people who have suffered much, and the US administration is using the shit out of them to further their own goals.

[Hissyspit]

3. AP: At Least 27 Die In Attacks At Polling Places

Bloody start to Iraqi election
At least 27 die in attacks at polling placesThe Associated Press
Updated: 6:21 a.m. ET Jan. 30, 2005BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqis turned out to vote Sunday in their country's first free election in a half-century, defying insurgents who launched deadly suicide bombings and heavy mortar strikes at polling stations. By midday, at least 27 people were dead but the violence had slowed and voting picked up.

Casting his vote, Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi called it “the first time the Iraqis will determine their destiny.” The country’s mostly ceremonial president, Ghazi al-Yawer, said it was Iraq’s first step “toward joining the free world.”

Security was tight. About 300,000 Iraqi and American troops were on the streets and on standby to protect voters, who entered polling stations under loops of razor wire and after being searched.

Despite the heavy attacks, turnout was brisk in some Shiite Muslim and mixed Shiite-Sunni neighborhoods. Even in the small town of Askan in the so-called “triangle of death” south of Baghdad — a mixed Sunni-Shiite area — 20 people waited in line at each of several polling centers. More walked toward the polls.

MORE: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6874656/

[deutsey]

4. What an example to the slackers in this country that don't vote

These people are going out to vote and can't be certain they'll make it out alive.

[underpants]

5. Exactly

Spot on

[underpants]

6. Meanwhile......here at home

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x2536785

[Mike Niendorff]

7. AP has it at 36 now.

(with the standard-issue-propaganda headline, of course)

Iraqis Defy Attackers in Historic Election
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/ap/20050130/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_the_vote


MDN