Obama's tribute to Iraqi voters after landmark elections
Bloodshed mars parliamentary elections in Iraq as voters head to polls for only second time since fall of Saddam Hussein
Sunday, 07, Mar 2010 07:18
By Matthew Champion and Richard James.
Barack Obama has paid tribute to Iraqi voters after millions braved attacks by insurgents to vote in parliamentary elections for only the second time since Saddam Hussein was ousted from power in 2003.
Dozens of people died across the country today as polls opened between at 04:00 GMT and 14:00 GMT.
In a statement after polls closed, President Obama said: "I have great respect for the millions of Iraqis who refused to be deterred by acts of violence, and who exercised their right to vote today.
"Their participation demonstrates that the Iraqi people have chosen to shape their future through the political process."
Polling stations across the Middle Eastern country were hit by mortar rounds, rockets and roadside bombs, with President Obama reserving special praise for the Iraqi authorities.
"I commend the Iraqi government and Iraqi security forces for providing security at nearly 50,000 voting booths at more than 8,000 polling stations across Iraq," he said.
"We mourn the tragic loss of life today, and honour the courage and resilience of the Iraqi people who once again defied threats to advance their democracy."
In Baghdad several buildings have been destroyed by explosions and dozens of mortars fired, leaving 19 people dead in at least two separate incidents.
Elsewhere around the country five people died in attacks, although a ban on all vehicle transport was relaxed slightly to allow car drivers to travel. The border with Iran was completely closed, however.
More than 19 million Iraqis were eligible to vote for over 6,000 potential candidates competing for the 325 seats in the Iraqi parliament with reports suggestion incumbent prime minister Nouri al-Maliki looks set for victory.
The election is the country's fifth nationwide poll since the US-led invasion seven years ago but only the second for a full four-term parliament.
The vote had been due to take place in January but the date was repeatedly delayed following a series of political disagreements over prospective candidates.
The last election in 2005 resulted in a Shia Muslim-led government after the Sunni Arab population decided to boycott the vote.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq though has described Sunday's election as an "important milestone in Iraq's democratic progress" saying it represents an opportunity to strengthen the country's sovereignty as the US continues to withdraw its military presence.
A huge number of Iraqi expatriates around the world have already begun voting in the election since Friday.
The build-up to polling day was marred by predictable violence though, reportedly instigated by the insurgency.
On Wednesday and Thursday alone around 50 people were killed in a series of suicide bomb blasts around the country.
On polling day the 96,000 American troops still in the country took a backseat role, with the elections set to determine whether President Obama's pledge to halve troop numbers over the next five months ahead of a complete withdrawal in 2011 will be fulfilled.