Posted on 03/07/2010 5:52:01 PM PST by Yardstick
BAGHDAD—Despite a spasm of violence early Sunday, Iraqis flocked to the polls in what appeared to be large numbers, in a hard fought and too-close-to-call parliamentary election representing a pivotal test of the country's fledgling democracy.
A series of morning attacks cast an early pall over the day, as insurgents made good on threats to disrupt polling. At least 31 Iraqis died in dozens of mostly small attacks around the country as the voting began. The violence subsided by late morning without the sort of high-profile attacks that have shook the capital in recent months, killing in some cases more than 100 Iraqis in a day.
Polls closed at 5 p.m., and the day's relatively low level of violence was widely seen as a victory for Iraqi security services. Though no official turnout numbers will be available until Monday, anecdotal reports from polling stations around the country suggested turnout was strong. In some areas, local election officials reported unofficially turnout had been more than 70%.
"The Iraqi people have seen much worse than this," said Ibtihal Khaled, a 51-year-old housewife waiting to vote in Baghdad's predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Utaifiya. "A few bombs won't keep them away from the polls."
MUCH MORE at the link...
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
LOL.
A lot of the Sunni candidates were restored to the ballot after the initial removal anyway. They had been suspected and investigated for strong Baath Party ties.
Why would Iraq want to vote Saddam's party back in after disbanding it in '03?
To the IRAQI people —
WAY TO GO!
Wednesday, 16 October, 2002, 11:41 GMT 12:41 UK
Saddam ‘wins 100% of vote’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2331951.stm
Has “Organizing for America” been getting your check to you on time?
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