Iraq Announces Preliminary Results
Iraq Announces Preliminary Results of Provincial Elections – Edward Yeranian, Voice of America
Iraq’s electoral commission has announced the preliminary results of last weekend’s provincial elections, amid some accusations of irregularities and voting fraud. The Iraqi army and security forces, however, say that they will maintain order despite any challenges.
The head of Iraq’s High Electoral Commission Faraj al-Haidari announced the preliminary results of Saturday’s provincial election, indicating that 90 percent of the vote had been counted and that international observers were pleased with the electoral process.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s bloc won 38 percent of the vote in Baghdad, 37 percent in Basrah, and large margins in other provinces.
This is the country’s first election since 2005, with fourteen of Iraq’s 18 provinces having voted.
More at Voice of America.