February 4, 2005

THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA CONGRATULATES THE IRAQIS AND CONSIDERS THE ELECTIONS AN IMPORTANT POLITICAL STEP FOR IRAQ TO REGAIN ITS FULL SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE. INTERNATIONAL APPRAISAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE IRAQI ELECTIONS. A CONFERENCE INCLUDING THE MEMBER STATES OF SHARM EL-SHEIKH CONFERENCE TO SUPPORT IRAQ. ISRAEL DELAYS ITS WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PALESTINIAN CITIES. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia congratulated Iraq for its elections, considering it an important political step for Iraq to regain its full sovereignty and independence. In a statement, Saudi Arabia expressed hopes that the Iraqi elections would achieve national interests and would guarantee Iraq's unity and independence. The statement said: "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, government and people, would like to congratulate Iraq on the occasion of the success of the electoral operation, which is viewed as an important step in its political march for regaining sovereignty and independence." "We hope that the results of the elections will pave the way for the national reconciliation, which enhances the pillars of unity and independence of the country." Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received a telephone call from President George W. Bush of the United States of America. During the conversation, they discussed bilateral relations between the two counties and the development of situations in Iraq, Palestine and the region in general. The first of its kind free democratic elections were concluded in Iraq within the framework of the transitional political process the country is witnessing since the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime, according to international Security Council resolution 1546. Iraq witnessed for the first time in half a century a free democratic process to elect representatives for an interim national assembly of 275 members, an autonomous Kurdish parliament of 111 members for those living in Kurdistan, and provincial assemblies. Iraqis braved bombs and voted in their millions in Iraq's first free election in half a century yesterday. Insurgents made good their promise of turning the election into a bloodbath. Nine of their suicide bombers killed at least 35 people. Women in abayas whispered prayers at the sound of a nearby explosion as they waited to vote at one Baghdad polling station. But the mood elsewhere was triumphant, with long lines in many places in the city: civilians and policemen danced with joy outside one site, and some streets were packed with voters walking shoulder-to-shoulder toward polling centers. "This is democracy," said Karfia Abbasi, holding up a thumb stained with purple ink to prove she had voted. But polls were largely deserted throughout the day in many cities of the Sunni Triangle north and west of the capital, particularly Fallujah, Ramadi and Beiji. In Baghdad's mainly Sunni Arab area of Azamiyah, the neighborhood's four polling centers did not open at all, residents said. In Samarra, north of Baghdad, stations were empty for hours, but later hundreds of people showed up. Several hundred people turned out to vote in eastern districts of the heavily Sunni city of Mosul Iraq's third largest city and a center for insurgent violence in past months. But in western parts of Mosul, clashes erupted between guerrillas and Iraqi soldiers. Farid Ayar, spokesman for the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, indicated that around eight million people may have voted, or about 60 percent of registered voters. That would still be more than many had expected. A high turnout, especially in Sunni areas, would enhance the legitimacy of a 275-member Parliament, which will choose Iraq's leaders and write a new constitution. It could also help deflect criticism from Sunni groups that boycotted the poll. US President George W. Bush called the elections "a resounding success," but warned that more hard work lay ahead to build democracy there. "There's more distance to travel on the road to democracy, yet Iraqis are proving they are equal to the challenge," Bush said in brief remarks at the White House. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, said the elections had dealt a severe blow to international terrorism. The process, he said, was "a blow right to the heart of the global terrorism that threatens destruction not just in Iraq but in Britain and virtually every major country around the world." Insurgent attacks started within two hours of the polls opening, and over the day Baghdad saw eight suicide attacks, mostly against polling sites, using bombers on foot with explosives strapped to their bodies since private cars were banned from the streets. In one of the deadliest attacks of the day, a bomber got onto a minibus carrying voters to the polls in Hillah, south of Baghdad, and detonated his explosives, killing himself and at least four other people, the Polish military said. Deadly mortar volleys hit Baghdad's Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City and struck voters at several sites in Balad, and Kirkuk in the north and Mahawil south of the capital. A website statement purportedly from Abu Mussab Al-Zarqawi's group claimed responsibility for the attacks. The election will create a 275-member National Assembly and 18 provincial legislatures. The assembly will draw up the country's permanent constitution and will select a president and two deputy presidents, who in turn will name a new prime minister and Cabinet to serve for 11 months until new elections are held. Voter turnout was heavy in Shiite and mixed Shiite-Sunni neighborhoods of Baghdad. Even in the small town of Askan in the so-called "Triangle of Death" south of Baghdad, 20 people waited in line at each of several polling centers. Rumors of impending violence were rife. When an unexplained boom sounded near one Baghdad voting station, some women put their hands to their mouths and whispered prayers. Others continued walking calmly to the voting stations. Several shouted in unison: "We have no fear." "Am I scared? Of course I'm not scared. This is my country," said 50-year-old Fathiya Mohammed, wearing an abaya. At one polling place in Baghdad, soldiers and voters joined hands in a dance, and in Baquba, voters jumped and clapped to celebrate the historic day. At another, an Iraqi policeman in a black ski mask tucked his assault rifle under one arm and took the hand of an elderly blind woman, guiding her to the polls. Interim President Ghazi al-Yawar said a Shia Muslim would almost certainly head Iraq's next government but rejected any permanent division of top posts between rival ethnic groups. Yawar added to growing signals from leading politicians that at least a tacit agreement has been reached on how the top posts will be shared out after Sunday's landmark elections. The current interim administration has a Shia Muslim prime minister, Iyad Allawi, a Sunni Muslim president, Yawar, and Shia and Kurdish vice presidents, Ibrahim Jaafari and Rowsch Shaways, respectively. Yawar said he believed the ethnic shareout would "remain the same" for the post-election government that must oversee the drawing up of a new constitution, with the Kurds also being given the post of national assembly speaker. "This is my hunch for the time being during the transitional parliament," Yawar told a press conference, while insisting it should not become a permanent arrangement. "I hope this will not be the case in the permanent constitution because this would be really shameful in a country like Iraq to have division like this." Ghazi al-Yawar said that all parties - except those tainted by violence - must take part in talks on a new government and constitution after the historic election. "We must all become involved in a dialogue and reconciliation ... with everyone. All those who were not involved in violence must be part of the political process," the Sunni Arab president told a press conference. "There were no winners or losers" in the election, which Yawar called "a victory for Iraq." Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi called on his countrymen to set aside their differences yesterday, a day after Iraqis voted on religious or tribal lines. At a news conference, Allawi called on Iraqis to join together to rebuild a society shattered by decades of war, tyranny, economic sanctions and military occupation. "The terrorists now know that they cannot win," Allawi said. "The whole world is watching us. As we worked together yesterday to finish dictatorship, let us work together toward a bright future Sunnis and Shiites, Muslims and Christians, Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen," he said. Electoral Commission official Adel Al-Lami said a first phase of vote-counting at the individual polling stations was finished. Local centers are preparing tally sheets and sending them to Baghdad where they will be reviewed and vote totals compiled. He said the process could take up to 10 days. Nevertheless, the country is already focusing on goals almost as daunting as the election itself: Forming a new governing coalition once the vote is known, then writing a constitution and winning trust. Because of low Sunni turnout, there were fears that many in the influential minority would not accept Sunday's results. Shiite leaders gave assurances that they plan to bring the Sunni minority into the fold. "We are looking at ways of including Sunnis," said Ibrahim Bahr Al-Uloum, a candidate on the United Iraqi Alliance list. Across much of Iraq there was a sense of accomplishment after the vote, with many people displaying index fingers stained with purple polling ink, proud to have braved insurgent threats against the first multiparty poll in 50 years. Militants tried to make good on their vow to drench the poll in blood, killing 35 people in suicide bomb and mortar attacks, but the death toll was far below what some had feared. Interior Minister Falah Al-Naqib attributed the relative calm to a three-day security blitz, in which he said more than 200 suspected insurgents had been detained countrywide. President Bush called the Iraqi election a "resounding success" and promised that the United States will help Iraqis fight continuing insurgency as they build a democratic government. "There's more distance to travel on the road to democracy," Bush said, four hours after the polls closed. "Yet Iraqis are proving they're equal to the challenge." The president mentioned that some were killed while voting, but he focused his brief remarks on the success for Iraq and its citizens. He told of one voter who lost a leg in a terrorist attack last year but still made it to the polls to vote for peace. "The world is hearing the voice of freedom from the center of the Middle East," Bush said. "In great numbers, and under great risk, Iraqis have shown their commitment to democracy." Insurgents in Iraq struck polling stations with a string of suicide bombings and mortar volleys, killing more than 40 people, including nine suicide bombers. Bush also said he mourned the loss of U.S. and British forces on election day, including troops killed when a British military transport plane crashed. "Terrorists and insurgents will continue to wage their war against democracy, and we will support the Iraqi people in their fight against them," Bush said. "We will continue training Iraqi security forces so this rising democracy can eventually take responsibility for its own security." Meanwhile, the United States Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, says the elections have gone better than expected. Even though it will be a while until accurate turnout figures are known, Dr Rice says the US Government is pleased with how the election has unfolded. "The Iraqi people have clearly turned out, and they've clearly done this because they recognise that the vote is their opportunity for a different kind of future," she said. The Sunday ballot was the first free election in Iraq in half a century, with voters being asked to choose a 275-member national assembly that will draw up a constitution so a permanent government can be elected later in the year. Officials expect preliminary results from the poll in six to seven days and final results in about 10 days. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the successful election was a psychological blow to insurgents because it demonstrated that Iraqis were committed to democracy. Britain has been Washington's chief ally in the Iraq war. "Yesterday's elections represent a real blow to this disgusting campaign of violence and intimidation," said Straw, who also recognized Iraqi security forces for helping police the election. Straw said Britain would call for an early meeting of the Sharm-el-Sheik group of Iraq's neighbors and the G-8 industrialized countries to build international support for the new national assembly. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan praised the courage of the Iraqi people and congratulated Iraqis and others who organized and carried out the January 30 elections, including Iraqi and international security forces who "made a notable contribution to ensuring a relatively safe and secure environment." "It will be some days before final results are known, but current indications are that the elections have been successfully carried out," Annan said in a January 30 statement released while he was in Abuja, Nigeria. The secretary-general said the election's success "augurs well for the transition process" to a permanent government, including the drafting of a permanent constitution for the country. Calling for reconciliation between Iraqi groups and parties, Annan said it is important for everyone, including those who were unable or unwilling to take part in the elections, to be brought into the constitutional process. He added that the United Nations is ready to play a role in the process if invited to do so. UN's election advisor in Iraq said on Sunday that turnout was exceeding expectations, noting that voters were lining up at polls even in the rebel-plagued northern city of Mosul. "According to first reports we're getting, participation seems to be exceeding expectations in some parts" of the country, said Carlos Valenzuela. "So far so good." Valenzuela noted that people were queuing up even in the northern city of Mosul, which has been torn by violence for months. "In Mosul, there are even people lining up," Valenzuela said. Iraqi and US security forces had braced for great violence in Iraq for the country's first free elections in half-a-century and had deployed extensive security measures, including curfews and bans on vehicle traffic. So far an array of suicide bombings and mortar strikes have killed 16 people, but the level of violence has not deterred people from voting. The UN advisor noted that some polls had not opened initially around western Baghdad and the stretch of Sunni towns south of the capital, known as the Triangle of Death, but said the problem "was solved." He did not go into detail on the difficulties in the areas that have been known as bastions of the insurgency. Valenzuela, who has spent 13 years planning elections in trouble spots around the globe, has consistently expressed optimism over Iraq's elections despite the difficult security situation on the ground. European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana: "I want to congratulate the Iraqi people who have shown courage and determination in voting today ... Despite the many difficulties that lie ahead, the elections mark progress toward a transition to a democratic, free and peaceful Iraq." On the other hand Iraq's leading Sunni clerics said the country's landmark elections lacked legitimacy because large numbers of Sunnis did not participate in the balloting, which the religious leaders had asked them to boycott. Emboldened by the elections, which US and Iraqi authorities cited as a victory for democracy, the police chief in Mosul demanded the insurgents hand over weapons within two weeks or he would "wipe out" anyone giving them shelter. The level of insurgent violence has appeared to drop sharply after the election similar to a short-duration decline in attacks which occurred after the transfer of sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government in June. In its first statement since the balloting, the Association of Muslim Scholars said the vote lacked legitimacy because of low Sunni participation. The association months ago urged Sunnis to shun the polls because of the presence of US and other foreign troops, and insurgents threatened to kill anyone who voted. Iraqi officials have acknowledged voting problems, including a ballot shortage in Baghdad, Basra and Mosul, which have substantial Sunni populations and which also may have contributed to a low Sunni turnout. On the Palestinian track Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas met with senior Russian officials Monday in a bid to win Moscow's support in upcoming peace talks with Israel, and President Vladimir Putin expressed hope that the new leader would be able to jump-start solutions to Palestinians' intractable problems. We strongly hope that you, Mr. Chairman, will be able to take steps toward improving the situation in respect to Israel as well as the socio-economic situation in Palestine," Putin told Abbas at the start of a Kremlin meeting. "We are ready to work actively as before together with the international community to help solve all these problems." President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) met with the Turkish president and held a series of talks and deliberations that were described as fruitful and productive for both sides, as part of his tour in several Arab and foreign countries. Following his meeting with the Turkish president, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Abu Mazen met with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where they held intensive talks that covered a wide range of issues that are crucial to the relations between the Turkish and Palestinian peoples. President Abbas briefed the Turkish PM on the situation in the Palestinian territories and the steps taken by the Palestinian Authority to maintain safety and security. He also gave him an idea about the arrangements that have been reach with the Palestinian factions and the contact with the Israeli side. On his part, Prime Minister Erdogan asserted his country's firm position in supporting the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people, and expressed his country's readiness to continue providing political and financial support for the PA. In this matter, the Turkish government decided to provide the PA with 25,000 uniforms for the Palestinian police force, in addition to providing additional training at the Turkish Police Academy and provide training on internal security matters. The Turkish side also promised to study the reactivation of Gaza's international airport and harbor, after discussing it with the Minister of Transportation, Hekmat Zaid. Following the meeting with PM Erdogan, President Abbas met with the heads of Turkey's chambers of commerce, who briefed him on the commercial relationship between Turkey and the PA, and the necessity of developing this relationship by activating the free trade agreement side by both sides in the end of 2003. Abu Mazen called on the Turkish investors to invest in the Palestinian territories, asserting that all doors will be open for them, especially in light of the atmosphere of calmness in the region. President Abbas also visited the Turkish Parliament, where he met with the Parliament speaker, Bulent Arinc, and a number of Parliament members. Palestinian and Israeli officials met to further discuss the planned transfer of security control in several West Bank towns, according to local reports. The four-hour meeting between Palestinian negotiator Mohammed Dahlan, former Palestinian security minister, and Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz was held in the Israeli coastal city of Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv, and expected to come out with the details of the scheduled handover. Besides the Israeli pullback, Dahlan would also urge Israel to halt military operations in the West Bank and release the hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hopes were once strained when a 10-year-old Palestinian girl was killed in a UN-run school, which triggered several rounds of retaliatory fires and a threat to resume anti-Israel attacks from the militant Hamas group. Although the bloodshed did not abort the meeting, Mofaz demanded at the outset that the Palestinian authorities take immediate action to stop the ongoing firing, according to the army radio. The towns involved were expected to be Ramallah, Jericho, Tulkarem and Qalqilya, with possible addition of the flashpoint northern town of Jenin.