DATE=3/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ ELECTIONS (L)
NUMBER=2-260653
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// ED'S: POLLS CLOSE AT 17 UTC / NOON WASHINGTON
TIME. PRELIMINARY RESULTS A FEW HOURS LATER. WATCH
FOR UPDATES ///
INTRO: In Iraq, voters are going (went) to the polls
to elect a new national assembly, for the second time
since the Gulf War ended nine-years ago.
Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from our Middle East
Bureau in Cairo that results from the 15-hundred
polling stations are expected to be announced a few
hours after polls close.
TEXT: Most of Iraq's nine-million eligible voters
cast ballots (Monday) in an election that the official
news media cast as a vote of solidarity for President
Saddam Hussein. Many voters said the economy was the
main issue and expressed hope for an end to economic
sanctions that have reduced per-capita production to
one-fifth its level 10-years ago.
Five-hundred candidates were running for 220-seats in
the next assembly. Election officials said one-fourth
of these are members of the ruling Baath Party. The
remainder are independents who support the government.
The president is to appoint delegates to the remaining
30-seats, representing three provinces in northern
Iraq that are controlled by Kurdish rebels.
The president's son, Udai, made his political debut,
running for the first time for a seat in Baghdad
district.
Campaigning was minimal. Rallies and manifestos were
banned and candidates had only limited access to the
news media.
The national assembly has little power. It debates
policy and makes recommendations to the Revolutionary
Command Council, a panel of primarily military leaders
that has governed Iraq for 32-years. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/GE/RAE
27-Mar-2000 10:11 AM EDT (27-Mar-2000 1511 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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