http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4219569.stm

So far things seem to be proceeding as predicted with a wave of attacks after the polls opened. The Kurds and Shia seem to have all turned out in a 'festival atmosphere', but the Sunni turnout is very low. Only 22 dead so far despite multiple suicide attacks - I was expecting much higher so here's hoping the worst of it is over.

[ 01-30-2005, 08:22 AM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

A British hurcules has crashed. They're not saying whats on it or how it crashed, surley they would know if it didn't involve direct attack and say immeadiatley. I fear the worst.

[ 01-30-2005, 11:10 AM: Message edited by: Aragorn1 ]

I hope the attacks are few and far in between, it's must be hard to vote with that kind of thing being possible.

It was good to see that so many people went outthere to cast their votes, despite all the threats from the insurgents, but i wonder how much value the outcome will have. Only a mix of representatives of all religeous groups will work i'm afraid. If one group is brushed aside by the outcome of the elections, then i don't expect them to go stand on the sideline until the next elections.There's a good chance the Sunnis won't be represented in the new government, simply because they are a minority. And exactly this minority was in charge for the past few decades, maybe longer, dunno the exact history of Iraqi politics.

I've read on a few places that they estimate 60-70% of the people turned out to vote, that's higher than we usually get here, if it's accurate it's an excellent show of support for self government in a region of the world that's been horribly oppressed for the last 1200 years or so.

Well, the election over here went well.

Well we finally got dancin' in the streets, it seems that a people who have been conquered many times throughout their history, reserve their dancin' for when something new happens. Not just a new army marchin' through the country.
Way to go Iraqi's you are takin' the first steps to self determination, enjoy the ride it can be a blast, or it can be a Charlie Foxtrot. It's up to you to make of it as you will, good luck.

<font color = lightgreen>Good luck to Iraq and her people...they'll need it until things settle down. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

I hope the Sunnis complain about being underrepresented--they did it to themselves by having so many candidates pull out of the election because they cannot be the party in power anymore--so their complaints may fall on deaf ears. Cry me a river! [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img] </font>

Of what I've heard, the voter turnout from Sunni Muslims wasn't the greatest either.