Thousands of soldiers, policemen start voting in Iraq provincial elections

start voting in Iraq provincial elections

Soldiers, policemen cast their ballots for provincial
elections, one week ahead of main vote that comes amid uptick in violence,
long-running political crisis.

Thousands of soldiers, policemen start voting in Iraq provincial elections Apr13_4

Thousands of soldiers, policemen start voting in Iraq provincial elections Apr13_4

Credibility of elections into question

Middle East Online BAGHDAD: Iraqi
soldiers and policemen cast their ballots for provincial elections on Saturday,
a week ahead of the main vote that comes amid an uptick in violence and a
long-running political crisis.
The credibility of the elections, the first since
March 2010 parliamentary polls, has been drawn into question following deadly
attacks on candidates and a government decision to partly postpone voting that
means only 12 of Iraq's 18 provinces will take part.
At least a dozen election hopefuls have been
killed while others have been wounded or kidnapped in the run-up to the polls
and, although security has markedly improved since the height of Iraq's
confessional conflict, March was still the deadliest month since August,
according to figures.
More than 8,000 candidates are standing in the
elections, with 378 seats on provincial councils up for grabs. An estimated 16.2
million Iraqis are eligible to vote, among them about 650,000 members of the
security forces.
We have done our duty, and now we hope that they
(candidates) will do their duty also," said federal police Colonel Abbas Kadhim,
who cast his ballot in west Baghdad.
We wish that they will fulfill the hopes of the
Iraqi people."
Voters persistently complain about poor basic
services such as electricity and sewerage, rampant corruption and high
unemployment.
The latest elections come with the country mired
in a political crisis that has pitted Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki against
several of his erstwhile national unity cabinet partners, and amid more than
three months of anti-government protests by the country's Sunni Arab
minority.
The polls are seen as a key barometer of Maliki's
popularity ahead of parliamentary elections next year

The premier has battled allegations from his
opponents of monopolising power, and little in the way of landmark legislation
has been passed by parliament, but Maliki insists he is attempting to make the
most out of an unruly coalition.
Provincial councils are responsible for nominating
governors who take charge of the provinces' administration, finances and
reconstruction projects.
The police also ostensibly fall under provincial
remit, but the federal government has typically held sway over security
matters.
Six provinces will not vote in the polls -- the
three of the autonomous Kurdistan region, the disputed northern province of
Kirkuk, and two Sunni-majority provinces where authorities say security cannot
be guaranteed.