Iraqis voted on Wednesday in the first national election since US troops left, with prime minister Nouri Al Maliki seeking a third term of office and expressing confidence he will win.
At least 15 people were killed and 23 wounded across the country in polling day attacks, according to police statements, an indication of a recent steady rise in violence, which has seen Al Qaeda affiliated factions growing in power to seize control in western desert regions.
Mr Al Maliki, 63, has hinged his re-election campaign on a promise of security, insisting only he is tough enough to take on Sunni militant groups and restore stability.
Critics of his Shiite dominated government blame him for the increase in sectarian polarisation, saying he has done nothing to ease tensions and unite a divided nation, favouring Shiites and fuelling a sense of disenfranchisement and anger among Iraq’s Sunnis.
Turnout appeared to be relatively low, with early counts from the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) saying around 40 per cent of 21 million eligible voters had cast ballots by late afternoon — a figure indicative of the general low regard with which Iraqis hold their political classes. Polling centres were due to close at 6pm.
“Today is a big success, and even better than the last elections, even though there is no foreign soldier on Iraqi soil,” Mr Al Maliki said, as he cast his vote at the highly fortified Rasheed hotel in central Baghdad. Government forces were deployed in strength throughout the capital. US soldiers pulled out more than two years ago.
Mr Al Maliki’s rule has been controversial, with corruption and poverty rife, power cuts still the norm and growing insecurity. A total of 3,015 civilians were killed in the first three months of this year, according to the unofficial Iraq Body Count website, more than triple the number from a year earlier.
Security officials reported more than 40 attacks yesterday, including mortar fire, roadside bombs and a suicide blast, targeting polling stations or people on their way to vote in northern and western Iraq.
Among those killed were two IHEC employees who died in two bomb blasts as they were being escorted by a military convoy in northern Iraq.
In addition to deteriorating security, Mr Al Maliki has faced persistent accusations of trying to hold onto power at any cost. In August, he successfully sought a High Court ruling that he be allowed to stand for a third term, overcoming objections laid down by parliament, which insisted that all premiers be limited to two terms in office in their lifetimes.
His opponents, and many independent observers say the court and other supposedly impartial organisations, including IHEC, have been staffed by Maliki loyalists and put under political pressure from the prime ministers office. Key security agencies also answer directly to him.
More than 40 MPs have boycotted parliament since December, in protest at the treatment of Sunnis, including arrests and campaigns by anti-terrorist squads they say target them on sectarian grounds.
Mr Al Maliki’s government has also come in for intense criticism from rival Shiite factions, including the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, led by Ammar Al Hakim and the Sadrist Movement of cleric Muqtada Al Sadr, for what they say is his unwillingness to share power.
In the main southern city of Basra, civil servant Adel Salim Khudayr, 52, said he wanted Wednesday to be “a day of change, so there will not be any dictatorship to govern Iraq”.
“We want a real democracy, not a democracy of religious parties. We do not want to elect any candidate from the previous parliament.”
Despite this opposition, anecdotal soundings from Iraqis suggest the prime minister remains popular, especially among many Shiites, who see him as a bulwark against Sunni extremism.
“If we are not coming to vote, who is going to come (to power)?” asked Umm Jabbar, who had queued outside a polling station in the Shiite shrine city of Najaf since 6:00am.
“Will the enemy come? I am voting for Maliki, because he is a thorn in the eyes of the enemy,” said the woman in her eighties, quoting an Arabic proverb.
More than 9,000 candidates are competing for 328 parliament seats. The process is being monitored by more than 1,200 international observers and 30,000 Iraqis.
Official results are due to be announced within 15 days but formation of a government may take much longer. Following the close fought and controversial last election, in December 2010, it took nine months for parliament to agree on a majority government, headed by Mr Al Maliki.
Iran was seen as a key power broker in Mr Al Maliki’s eventual coronation. Since then, Baghdad’s relations with Tehran have gown tighter while its links to the US have cooled, with Washington accusing Iraq of helping Tehran suppress an uprising in Syria, sending in militia fighters and permitting the transport of weapons to regime forces though its airspace.
Major political disputes dogging the country at the time of the 2010 election remain unresolved, including the passage of an energy law, persistent budgetary problems and on-going dispute with the Kurds over the level of autonomy and exploitation of oil rights.
Transparency International, a Berlin-based anti-graft group, ranks Iraq 171st among 175 countries and territories in its 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index. Iraq ranked 137th out of 159 in 2005.
* Reuters and Agence France-Presse
Company%20Profile
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Match info
Karnataka Tuskers 110-3
J Charles 35, M Pretorius 1-19, Z Khan 0-16
Deccan Gladiators 111-5 in 8.3 overs
K Pollard 45*, S Zadran 2-18
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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