Strong Lead by Shiite Clergy in Iraq Vote

[Roland99]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050203/D88190P80.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi officials Thursday released the first partial returns from national elections, showing a commanding lead by candidates backed by the Shiite Muslim clergy. Sunni insurgents unleashed a wave of attacks, killing at least 29 people, including two U.S. Marines and a dozen Iraqi army recruits.

Meanwhile, election officials said strict security measures may have deprived many Iraqis in the Mosul area and surrounding Ninevah province of their right to vote. The admission is likely to fuel complaints by Iraq's minority Sunni Arabs, who make up the heart of the insurgency, that they were not represented in the vote.

The results released by the election commission four days after Sunday's balloting came from Baghdad and five provinces in the southern Shiite heartland.

As expected, they showed that the United Iraqi Alliance, backed by Iranian-born Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, was leading - with 1.1 million votes out of the 1.6 million counted and certified so far. Some 14 million Iraqis were eligible to vote.

Looks like the Iraqis have had enough of AlLIEwi.

[blm]

1. Bush, making life better for the Christians of Iraq who are now being

forced underground.

Let's see, Bin Laden wanted an Islamic government for Iraq and targeted Saddam for years. Bush topples Saddam and now an Islamic government will be in power.

Another win for Bin Laden, courtesy of George W. Bush.

It may not be apparent now, but, it will be in a few years.

[Just Me]

2. They were able to exist in relative safety even under Saddam.

Sad to say.

But, of course, we all know that Bush's version of "freedom" must be right and the rest of the world community must be wrong about this occupation.