IRAQ 31 January 2009 Iraqis go to the polls in 14 of 18 provinces 

Provincial elections are scheduled for early 2009 in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces. Due to unresolved issues, elections in the remaining provinces have been delayed. The vote is seen as a major step toward political stabilization, a more inclusive sectarian balance and the improvement of basic services. Violence has decreased, but the United Nations top advisor in Iraq, Staffan de Mistura, warns that it could spike around election time and derail the vote. The official campaign period began Dec 1.

This time round, the Sunni Arab groups are expected to participate. In 2005, when the last provincial elections were held, the Sunnis boycotted them. Their absence left many provinces, even those with substantial Sunni populations, governed by councils dominated by Shiites and Kurds. Several of the countries ethnic and religious minorities are unhappy with the election plan and may boycott the vote. They say they were cheated when parliament determined quotas for parliamentary seats. The United Nations had recommended a total of 12 seats to be spread across the country's provincial councils for Christians, Yazidis, Shabaks and Sabians, but parliament has only approved six seats. Nov/08

RELATED READING:

IRAQ: At long last, an election date (LA Times 18 Nov 2008)
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