Maliki praises Iraqis, terms elections “successful”

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki on Saturday expressed thanks to the Iraqi people and organizations that did their best to render the 11-hour marathon local elections “successful” less than one hour before all voting centers close in 14 Iraqi provinces. “The Iraqis have sent a message to the whole world through these elections and I thank all participants who bypassed their religious, sectarian, and ethnic affiliations,” Maliki said in a speech he delivered after the provincial council elections were wrapped up today (Jan. 31). The premier also praised Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) staff for their efforts and the security agencies that protected the citizens during the course of the voting. Voting centers in Baghdad and other 13 provinces started at 07:00 a.m. Baghdad local time to receive eligible voters who are electing their candidates to occupy all 440 seats in local councils amidst blanket security measures. Four provinces, including the three autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region provinces of Arbil, Sulaimaniya and Duhuk, have not witnessed local elections, in addition to oil-rich Kirkuk, where elections were postponed until reconciliatory solutions are reached for the political crises there. AmR (P)/SR 1