Iraq Election Result Hit by Fresh Delays

[tekisui]

Source: The Guardian

Iraq's electoral body said it would review all data in the recent general election, delaying yet again the declaration of a result that was expected and is thought to narrowly favour the coalition of the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, over his secular rival, Iyad Allawi.

The review falls short of the full recount demanded by Maliki's State of Law bloc, but adds another layer of uncertainty to a painstaking 11-day count that has been riddled with delays and claims of vote rigging. It also follows conflicting accounts of who is the frontrunner, with Allawi's entourage still maintaining they are within striking distance of the lead, with 80% of the national vote counted.

"It will be close, believe me," Allawi said on the eve of the election. "This could take many months to sort out."

Ahead of what was expected to be a watershed in post-Saddam Iraq, the potential kingmakers gave the first indications of their demands during the horse-trading that will follow a winner being declared.

Loyalists of Moqtadr al-Sadr, the exiled Shia cleric, said they could countenance joining Maliki's coalition to form a government but only if the prime minister was not given a second term. The Sadrist bloc, which was ostracised by Maliki and denounced by the US as a spent force, has emerged from the ballot unscathed. It is likely to win up to 40 seats in the new 325-seat parliament, proving difficult to avoid in any coalition negotiations.

Before the election, the State of Law bloc had banked on enough seats to be able to ignore the Sadrist power base. Even after polling stations closed, Maliki's supporters were talking down Sadr's relevance.

more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/18/iraq-elections-results-delay

[Solly Mack]

1. k/r

[unhappycamper]

2. Maybe that democracy thing isn't working in the Middle East.

Iraq was really a stupid idea. . As is Afghanistan. .

[tekisui]

3. This should be very closely watched in the coming months.

Sadr is trying to get Maliki booted. The question will be whether this can be resolved politically or if the factions resort to violence. As the rhetoric heats up, so does the potential for an 'igniting moment'. An event could start a violent and expanding reaction.

If this were serious enough, the plans for US withdrawal will be delayed.

[tekisui]

4. See Results here:

http://www.themajlis.org/projects/iraq-results

[Echo In Light]

5. k/r