Posted on 01/30/2005 1:13:32 AM PST by presidio9
The Iraqi people started voting Sunday in their country's first election after ousting the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, as anti-occupation and anti-government rebels, bent on wrecking Sunday’s vote, stepped up their deadly bombing and mortar strikes at several polling stations across Iraq.
Rebels killed two people in a string of bomb and mortar attacks across the country Sunday, three hours before the polling stations opened.
Casting his vote in Iraq’s first multi-party ballot in half a century, interim President Ghazi al-Yawer called it Iraq's first step "toward joining the free world."
Although Iraqi authorities adopted strict security measures, numerous explosions and violent attacks shook Baghdad on the elections’ first day. Also multiple blasts rocked the Iraqi cities of Mosul and Baquba.
A bomb attack in western Baghdad killed one policeman and wounded several others. Meanwhile mortar attacks rocked Khan al-Mahawil, 40 miles south of the Iraqi capital, killing another policeman at a polling center.
Three other people were injured when a rocket landed near a polling station in Sadr City, the heart of Baghdad's Shiite Muslim community, witnesses said Sunday.
The Iraqi capital was hit with several explosions and mortar attacks. Several other Iraqi cities, including Baqouba, Basra and Mosul were also struck with similar attacks.
Also the Ministry of Interior on the city's eastern edge was hit Sunday with two mortars, according to one witness.
In the New Baghdad area in the eastern part of the city, an exchanges of gunfire were also heard.
Meanwhile Baqouba, northeast of Baghdad, and southern city of Basra, the country's second-largest were also struck with several explosions.
Al-Yawer and his wife were among the first people to cast their ballot at election headquarters in the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad. As poll workers watched, he marked two ballots and dropped them into boxes, and then walked away with an Iraqi flag given to him by a poll worker.
"I'm very proud and happy this morning," al-Yawer told reporters. "I congratulate all the Iraqi people and call them to vote for Iraq."
Analysts say that the Iraqi election is a major test of the U.S. President George W. Bush's claimed mission of spreading democracy in the Middle East.
Nearly 300,000 Iraqi and American troops are stationed in Iraq streets, on a state of allert to protect voters.
About 5,200 polling stations were opening on schedule all over Iraq, a spokesman for Iraq's elections commission said.
Few people went to the polling stations in the early hours, as most of the Iraqis, fearing more bomb attacks and car explosions which usually take place in the morning, preferred to wait at home and see if any attacks will happen.
However, there were no reports of violence at the polls, but an explosion was heard at the U.S. military base in Kirkuk.
Also small arms fire was heard near another U.S. base near Baghdad's airport.
"So far the situation is excellent in all areas," said the chairman of Iraq's electoral commission, Abdul-Hussein Hendawi. "All the polling centers, their doors are open. So far we haven't heard about any problems."
In the Sunni strongholds; Fallujah and Ramadi, there were no sign of participation in the voting.
Sunni leaders have called for a vote boycott, saying that elections can’t be held in Iraq while the country is under the illegitimate U.S. occupation.
On the other hand, Iraqi Shiites, who make up 60 percent of the country’s population, are expected to turn out in large numbers.
In Nasiriyah, 40 people lined up waiting to vote at one of the polling stations in the heavily Shiite Muslim city.
Helicopters were seen hovering over the country, and bursts of machine gun fire were heard at Baghdad's deserted streets.
The elections’ final results won’t be announced before seven to 10 days, but a preliminary tally is expected late Sunday.
U.S. embassy attacked
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was hit Saturday with a rocket, U.S. military said, adding that two people were killed in the attack.
According to an embassy official, the rocket hit near the embassy's compound Saturday night, setting off an explosion that was heard throughout the center of the city.
The official added that a civilian and a Navy sailor, both assigned to the embassy, were killed and four other American soldiers were injured.
"It hit near the embassy building," embassy spokesman Bob Callahan said. "There are two dead and four who are wounded ... all Americans."
According to analysts, the embassy attack is expected to deepen the Iraqis’ fears that more attacks would take place on the election day.
It also proved the ability of anti-occupation rebels of striking at the heart of the interim government and American power at the heavily fortified Green Zone area.
Last August, the U.S. embassy was hit with mortar fire, only wounding two people.
Wave of attacks
Also yesterday, an unidentified man blew up himself outside a U.S.-Iraqi military center in the town of Khanaqin near the Iranian border Saturday, killing himself and at least three Iraqi soldiers and five civilians.
According to the 1st Infantry Division, the blast happened outside the military center, which was continuing to function as normal.
The bomber was seen walking in the direction of the center wearing explosives before her blew himself up, Local officials said.
U.S. forces surrounded the blast site and sealed it off.
Bombings and attacks have intensified in various areas in Iraq in the run up to the country’s first elections after ousting the former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein.
Heavy gunbattles
Also Saturday, Baghdad residents said they heard an outbursts of heavy machine gun and rifle fire.
Witnesses said that the sound of the gunbattles was apparently coming from the area around the heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses the U.S. and British embassies as well as the offices of the Iraqi interim government.
Helicopter crash
On Friday night, an American OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter crashed in southwestern Baghdad, U.S. officials said. This is the second U.S. helicopter to crash in a week.
Last Tuesday, a CH-53 Sea Stallion, carrying personnel from the 1st Marine Division, went down about 1:20 a.m. near the town of Rutbah, about 220 miles west of Baghdad, while conducting security operations, killing 31 U.S. Marines.
Hey! They missed the part where the counter battery radar picked up the rocket and handed off to the drone that was used to identify and track the perps and catch about severn of them less that two hours after their crime.
Giving up good video just to keep to the Islamofacist Party Line must have been a really hard decision for them. ;-)
Denny Crane: "I want two things. First God and then Fox News."
The bomber was seen walking in the direction of the center wearing explosives before her blew himself up, Local officials said.
before her blew himself up? Who writes for these people?
Clever post ! Love "Boston Legal" too!!
I think Bush should now adopt Denny Crane's line. Instead of "Denny CRane" he should now just answer the press corp with " George Bush !"
Looks like Al-Jeering is going to have to change that line about " Bush's CLAIMED mission to spreading democrcy in the Middle East" to.....
"George Bush's mission in spreading democracy to the middle East: Mission Accomplished!"
The cat's out of the bag! It's too late now, boys!
Media whores at it again.
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