Iraq tribes threaten to take up arms over poll

[sabra]

Source: Reuters

RAMADI, Iraq, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Tribal sheikhs who helped drive al Qaeda militants out of Western Iraq threatened on Monday to take up arms against the provincial government because of what they said was fraud in Saturday's provincial polls.

...

In one of the toughest-fought contests of the election, the tribes have challenged the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP), a Sunni religious party which has run the province since 2005.

With the IIP claiming the results will keep it in power, Awakening leaders alleged fraud in the voting.

"We threatened the electoral commission not to allow fraud. We said we will transform from a political entity to an armed wing against the electoral commission and the IIP because we discovered fraud," Awakening movement head Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha told Reuters.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L2167060.htm

[damntexdem]

1. But, but, but ... the news media have reported that the elections were such a success!

Nuff said.

[ohio2007]

2. Iraqi military puts Anbar province under curfew

By KIM GAMEL, The Associated Press
1:33 p.m. February 2, 2009
BAGHDAD — Iraq's military clamped a vehicle ban Monday on the Sunni-dominated province of Anbar after tribal sheiks sent gunmen into the streets claiming Sunni rivals linked to the Shiite-led government stole votes in last weekend's elections

snip


http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/feb/02/ml-iraq-020209/


guess the hundreds of parties and canidates they wanted to win didn't get the votes required.