Posted on 12/14/2005 5:33:50 PM PST by blam
Baghdad falls quiet as Zarqawi threatens poll
By Anton La Guardia Diplomatic Editor and Oliver Poole in Baghdad
(Filed: 15/12/2005)
The terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi vowed to disrupt today's general election in Iraq as a nationwide travel ban was imposed to reduce the threat of car bombings.
A woman holds her inked finger after voting in Tehran in elections for Iraqis living abroad
With Iraqi exiles starting to cast their ballots, including in Zarqawi's home town of Zarqa in Jordan, a statement issued by his branch of al-Qa'eda announced "a blessed conquest to shake up the bastions of non-believers and apostates and to ruin the 'democratic' wedding of heresy and immorality".
There were sporadic shooting and bombing attacks at polling stations yesterday, and several candidates have been killed in recent weeks. But overall the level of violence seemed to have dropped in the run-up to the poll.
Border posts and airports were sealed on Tuesday night, a night-time curfew was extended and cars have been banned from the roads.
Baghdad's congested streets fell unusually quiet yesterday, with the only sound coming from the odd police siren, occasional gunshots or an American helicopter.
In Tahrir Square posters were hung depicting Zarqawi dressed as a blood-red monster with the motto: "He wants to destroy elections, democracy, progress." There are growing signs that Sunni Arabs, who have led the insurgency for more than two years, will vote in unprecedented numbers.
Many appear convinced that the boycott of last year's elections handed power to Shias and Kurds, allowing them to draw up a federal constitution that Sunnis regard as a plan to break up the country.
Some militant Sunni factions, such as the Islamic Army in Iraq, has promised not to target polling stations.
The result may decide whether Iraq plunges into civil war or begins to turn the corner. This, in turn, will affect the ability of America and Britain to begin a controlled withdrawal.
Washington and London are hoping that a new government will be formed within weeks, avoiding the debilitating months of coalition wrangling that followed last January's elections.
Security has been tightened in and around polling stations
They also hope to draw neighbouring countries into the process of stabilising Iraq, perhaps by inviting them to help form a "contact group" along the lines of one that tried for years to end the wars in the former Yugoslavia.
Three men, all of them Shia, are seen as a possible prime minister: Adel Abdel-Mahdi, of the main Shia religious faction, the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution (SCIRI); Iyad Allawi, a former London exile who served as Iraq's first interim prime minister last year; and Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the current prime minister and head of the religious Daawa party.
One of the first tasks for the new government, which will rule for four years, will be to agree with US and British officials the procedure for a gradual hand-over of power to Iraqi forces.
There are signs that the Shia coalition that presently dominates Iraq could break up over the issue. SCIRI and Dawa want the US presence to continue for some time but they have now formed alliances with Moqtada al-Sadr, the militant cleric whose followers have fought with US and British troops and who demands the immediate departure of the "occupiers".
The man is a first-rate b*****d.
From some of the commentary by those who have voted already, there are some mightily annoyed people in Iraq, and they aren't the terrorists. They will take charge of their own country.
"Zarqawi needs to lighten up a little."
Zarqawi needs a little tag on one of his toes.
The sooner the better and God bless them....
At this time in Iraq a purple index finger IS a middle finger right in Zarkawi's face.
Are they implying some type of causal relationship?
I don't 'read' it that way.
Let's see, Zarqawi, that's the guy who wears the dress right? And makes lots of threats? He should either prove that he is a true believer and blow himself up or go to Oak Lawn and explain why he is dressed like that.
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