Poll says most Iraqis against quota system

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A recent opinion poll conducted by the National Media Center has shown that most Iraqis are against the use of the quota system in government jobs and positions. “Nearly 70 percent of those questioned advocate the cancelation of the quota system with regards to ministerial and government positions,” according to a statement released by the center. Around 78 percent said that they are optimistic about the future of their country, the highest percentage recorded throughout the past few months. According to the poll, 67 percent of the Iraqis said that they would like to participate in the next parliamentary elections, scheduled to take place early next year. A majority of 71 percent of those polled said they support the current regime, while 24 percent said they oppose it. The poll questioned 5,000 persons from all over Iraq, with the exception of the Kurdistan region. Sixty percent of the people questioned were Shiites, 36 percent were Sunni Arabs, 2 percent were Christians and 2 percent were from other religious minorities. SS (P)/SR 1