Iraq: Flashpoint city shuns Islamists in council elections

Iraqpress ^ | 01/28/04 | IRaqpress

[Pikamax]

Flashpoint city shuns Islamists in council elections

Anbar, Iraq Press, January 28, 2004 – Political factions with secular and democratic leanings emerged the winners in the first local elections held here since the downfall of Saddam Hussein nearly 10 months ago.

Some 18 groups contested the three seats dedicated to the city’s political parties.

The city council consists of 40 members, most of them were nominated by the US occupation troops and city elders.

The elections for the three seats, in which the majority of the legible voters of Ramadi’s 440,000 people took part, were free and direct.

The success of the ballot signals that direct elections might be possible in Iraq to choose a transitional national assembly and government before Washington hands over power to Iraqis.

Ramadi is the capital of the province of Anbar, which is the largest in area among Iraq’s 18 provinces.

The province, where 1.2 million people live, falls within the so-called “Sunni Triangle,” where insurgents are most active in Iraq.

The population is mainly Muslim Sunni.

Within the provincial borders, lies Falloja, a city of 425,000 people and reportedly the most restive and anti-American town in the country.

The Islamic parties failed to win a single seat while the Iraqi Communist Party snatched one of the three seats.

The biggest winner was Anbar National Congress whose candidate, Moyad Harrdan, had the largest number of votes.

The Congress’s head, Saadoun al-Khrebeet, was upbeat.

He said his political party was keen to see that all the 40 members of Anbar council are directly elected and “not nominated.”

“The formation of a new local council for Anbar through direct elections will be a pillar to reinforce security and stability in the whole province,” he said.

Ramadi is 110 kilometers west of Baghdad on the Euphrates River. US troops have set up camp in one of Saddam Hussein’s fabulous palaces there.

In 1995, the residents rose against Saddam Hussein after the execution of an army general from the province.

Saddam Hussein brutally quelled the uprising, executing many demonstrators and arresting thousands.

Tribes play a vital role in western Iraq, particularly in Ramadi, Falloja, Haditha, Hit and al-Qaim, the provincial towns known for their repeated attacks against US troops and the newly formed Iraqi police force.

The Anbar National Congress was formed in May last year and has grown to embrace most of the city’s intellectuals and technocrats due to its secular and democratic tendencies.

Tribal leaders and occupy 10 seats in the city council while 26 are held by technocrats.

Women are represented by one seat.

[VaBthang4]

"the Iraqi Communist Party snatched one of the three seats"

Oh of course...they'll promise you'll live off of other people's money if they run things.

Sound familiar?

[goldstategop]

Only ONE? Its interesting the region in Iraq that's home to anti-Coalition terrorists rejected both Islamists and the Communists. Now you're not going to hear this touted by the pro-Saddam Left as good news in this country. The Iraqis are voting not to go back either to socialist deprivation under Saddam's regime or to the 7th Century theocratic despotism preferred by the Islamists. Things are looking up in Iraq!