Shiite Alliance Claims Victory in Iraq election

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq2feb02.story
THE CONFLICT IN IRAQ
Shiite Alliance Claims Victory
The slate would have to reach out to Sunnis and Kurds to govern. Its leaders reject installing clerics and turning Iraq into a theocracy.
By Alissa J. Rubin
Times Staff Writer

February 2, 2005

BAGHDAD — Leaders of a predominantly Shiite Muslim list of candidates said Tuesday that their slate had won more than 50% of the votes cast for Iraq's transitional national assembly, but reaffirmed that they would refrain from using their power to install clerics in the new government.

Their promise was meant to reassure Kurds, Sunni Muslim Arabs and secular Shiites who fear that the slate would use its strong showing in Sunday's vote to push for an Islamic state similar to neighboring Iran's.

The United Iraqi Alliance, a slate that includes Shiite political parties as well as independent Shiite figures, was put together at the behest of the senior Shiite cleric in Iraq, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, whose endorsement was crucial in rallying voters.

Although the ticket includes some figures with religious fundamentalist leanings, its leaders said Sistani rejected the idea of turning Iraq into a theocracy.

"Ayatollah Sistani has said all along that he doesn't want to see clerics in any government positions, even as local administrators," said Hussein Shahristani, a soft-spoken scientist and one of the slate's leaders.

Election workers were counting votes late Tuesday and international officials cautioned that it was not yet certain whether the slate had a majority. Although there was little dispute that the alliance had garnered a large portion of the votes, the slate is not expected to win the two-thirds share in the national assembly needed to name a three-member presidency council that will choose the prime minister.<snip>

[Jack Rabbit]

1. That seems to be supported by 'reality-based' figures

From the BBC Online
Dated Thursday February 3

First partial result in Iraq vote

Iraq's electoral commission says 1.6m ballots have been counted at its headquarters over the past two days.

The ballots represent about 10% of registered voters, poll officials said.

Partial results show the United Alliance, backed by Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, leading with more than one-million votes.

The Alliance's nearest rival so far is the list of candidates led by interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, with about 360,000 votes.

Read more.