DEARBORN, Mich. — When Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) rose to power in Iraq (news - web sites), Sajad Zalzala was a toddler — too young to walk by himself in the streets of Baghdad, but old enough to sense that he lived in danger.
Relatives and neighbors routinely disappeared. Sometimes, their corpses were returned, tossed in the street.
The Zalzalas settled in the U.S. in the early 1980s and moved to this sprawling suburb of Detroit, home to the country's largest concentration of Iraqis. They stayed in touch with family in Baghdad, and never lost hope that they might someday see a leadership change.
"For years, my family has wanted to do something about the political situation there," said Zalzala, 23, a medical student at Wayne State University. "Finally, we can."
...
The expatriates don't have the same safety concerns as their relatives in the Middle East, where violence has been intensifying. Election workers and political candidates have been assassinated, and car bombs in Najaf, Karbala and Baghdad have killed dozens of civilians in recent weeks.
The election is open to Iraqi citizens, ages 18 or older. Because Iraq recognizes dual citizenship, the foreign-born children of expatriates also are eligible to vote. Between Jan. 17 and Jan. 23, voters must go to one of five cities to register. They must provide photo identification and proof of either their — or their father's — Iraqi citizenship.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2026&ncid=721&e=5&u=/latimests/20050110/ts_latimes/expatriateseagertorocktheiraqivote
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