Iraq election head says turnout at 55-60 percent by Magdalena Rosova

Turnout for Sunday's election in Iraq was between 55 and 60 percents. Faraj al-Haidari, the head of the Independent High Electoral Commission, told that the exact figures would be released at a news conference later on Monday. The number is lower than in December 2005, when about 76 percent of voters took part in the parliamentary election. But the number is still higher than last year's provincial elections when only 50 percent of the voters participated. Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission oversees the voting process in the country and also has all the figures. On Monday the head of the commission said the results of the parliamentary elections will be rele! ased within days, most likely on Thursday. The results will show whether the Iraq can overcome deep sectarian divides in the nation that almost tore them apart. The results will further decide about the future Iraq government that will lead the country as U.S. forces prepare to leave. On the election day 36 people were killed, Baghdad was full of rockets and mortars. Insurgents were hurling grenades at people on their way to vote and even tried to go off a bomb in a polling station. Iraqis across the whole country were recovering from the election and burying their relatives killed in the violence. Iraqi security protected ballot boxes and provided save movement to counting stations. But the announcement of the election's result will not end the political uncertainty in the country. It will take months Iraqis to create a new government. U.S. officials praised the work of Iraqi security forces playing down the death of 36 people.

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by Magdalena Rosova for SigEx Ventures (http://sigexventures.com)

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