Iraq Braces for Preliminary Election Results
By VOA News
04 February 2009
The U.S. military says it is working with Iraqi forces to ensure the transition of power is peaceful after Iraq's election results are released.
The second most senior U.S. officer in Iraq, Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin, briefed reporters on security issues Wednesday, as the country braced for preliminary election results expected to be released Thursday.
Election officials are examining serious complaints of voter fraud in western Anbar province. Despite that, the international community has praised Saturday's provincial elections as an example of a peaceful, democratic political process.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki expressed confidence in the election process during a briefing Wednesday with the country's top Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
Iraqi media are reporting that Mr. Maliki's coalition appears to be the major winner in the polls.
Reports say many voters rewarded the prime minister for taking forceful action against extremist militias, and that they favor his secular agenda over more religious parties.
U.S. and Iraqi officials have promoted the elections as a way to redistribute power more equitably across Iraq's ethnic and sectarian groups. Many Iraqis, especially Sunnis, boycotted the last elections in 2005, and officials hope greater participation this time will reduce support for the Sunni-led insurgency.
Fourteen of Iraq's 18 provinces voted in the elections. The disputed oil-rich province of Kirkuk and the three provinces of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region delayed the vote because of local issues.
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