Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Iraqi Kurds flock to polls in key election
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Search
Search:
Iraqi Kurds flock to polls in key election
AFP - Saturday, July 25
ARBIL, Iraq (AFP) - - Iraqi Kurds on Saturday began casting their ballots in presidential and parliamentary polls being held as the region grapples with a land dispute with Baghdad and tensions over oil exports.
ADVERTISEMENT
Queues had already formed at polling stations in the region's two main cities, Arbil and Sulaimaniyah, when voting opened at 8:00 am (0500 GMT).
Incumbent regional president Massud Barzani is widely tipped to be re-elected while his Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) are expected to sweep the parliamentary poll.
More than 2.5 million Kurds are eligible to vote in the poll being held throughout the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.
The two main former rebel factions, which have dominated local politics for decades, have presented a joint list, including many new candidates. But they face several challengers seeking to break their stranglehold.
Talabani and opposition party leader Nusherwan Mustafa cast their votes in Iraqi Kurdistan's second city of Sulaimaniyah, an AFP correspondent said.
Saturday's main vote -- more than 100,000 Kurdish members of Iraq's armed forces voted on Thursday, along with police, prisoners and the sick -- is being held six months after the rest of Iraq held provincial elections.
Polling stations are due to close at 6:00 pm (1500 GMT).
Final results are not expected for several days, however, as ballots must be collected in the regional capital Arbil before being transported to Baghdad for the count.
Tensions have heightened in the run-up to the vote between Barzani and the central government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki over Kurdish claims to 16 disputed areas, including oil-rich Kirkuk, and parts of three historically Kurdish-populated provinces -- Diyala, Nineveh and Salaheddin.
During a visit to Washington on Thursday, Maliki acknowledged that these tensions were among "the most dangerous issues that have been a concern for all the Iraqi government."
But he said he expected to resolve the standoff. "I am confident that we will be able to resolve all these issues not only with the Kurdistan region but also with other provinces," Maliki said.
During the US-led invasion of 2003, Kurdish peshmerga rebels who had fought the regime of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein occupied many of the disputed areas.
The former rebels are now deployed alongside Iraqi army soldiers, triggering a tense face-off that has raised the prospect of armed conflict.
Barzani has insisted he will not "compromise" on the longstanding claims to Kirkuk and wants the issue to be settled by a referendum called for under the Iraqi constitution, despite opposition from Arab and Turkmen residents.
Dyandar Zebari, who coordinates the Kurdish regional government's relations with the United Nations, said the next administration will also have to reach a deal with Baghdad to share energy resources from northern oilfields.
On June 1, the Kurdish administration began exporting oil for the first time, but Baghdad is contesting the region's right to sign contracts without central government approval.
Disagreements over oil rights have hamstrung exploitation of much of Iraq's massive proven reserves and long-delayed hydrocarbons law, prompting fierce Kurdish criticism.
Kurds are also increasingly concerned about corruption, with many voicing support for change after decades of PUK and KDP dominance.
Independent candidates like Mustafa, a wealthy entrepreneur and former PUK deputy leader, are working to break the PUK-KDP monopoly.
"We think that Kurdish society, after a political stabilisation, now needs economic, social and cultural reforms," said Mustafa, head of the Change List.
Five candidates have registered for the presidential race, including Barzani, while 24 political lists will contest the 111 seats in the assembly which first convened in 1992.
For the first time the regional president will be elected by popular vote in Iraqi Kurdistan, which covers the provinces of Arbil, Dohuk and Sulaimaniyah and has its own flag, national anthem and national day.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: World
Pressure on British PM after by-election blowAFP - Saturday, July 25
Ousted Zelaya sets foot back in Honduras, brieflyReuters - Saturday, July 25
Bush advisers debated troops to nab U.S. terror targetsReuters - Saturday, July 25
Mercosur urges patent-free swine flu treatmentsAFP - Saturday, July 25
Millions of Iraqi Kurds go to polls in key voteAFP - Saturday, July 25
Enlarge Photo
An Iraqi Kurdish man looks at election lists pasted on a wall in the northern city of Arbil, in the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq on July 22, 2009. More than 2.5 million Iraqi Kurds go to the polls in presidential and parliamentary elections on Saturday as the region grapples with a land dispute with Baghdad and tensions over oil exports.
Most Popular – World
Viewed
Swine flu virus has spread to almost every country: WHO
Police raid Jackson doctor for manslaughter link
Lost love letter reunites couple after 16 years
Massive quake moves NZealand closer to Australia
Swine flu has spread to almost every country: WHO
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Saturday, 25 July 2009 Iran plane slams into perimeter wall killing 17
Russia to punish foreign firms that arm Georgia: envoy
Iraq criticises U.S. talks with armed groups
Microsoft agrees to unbundle Explorer from Windows: EU
Ousted president arrives at Honduran border
| International
|
Extreme weather kills 18 in Europe
Bernanke, Geithner clash on consumer protection
Microsoft down on weak fourth quarter
Turkish navy commandos capture pirates off Somalia
Amazon CEO apologizes for deleting Orwell books
Iran cleric warns over moves against Khamenei
Iran supreme leader wants vice president sacked
| International
|
Iraq criticizes U.S. talks with armed groups
| International
|
Plane hits wall at Iranian airport, killing 17
| International
|
Illegal Lebanon arms may have been Hezbollah's: U.N.
| International
|
Darfur people may be left out of Sudan election: U.N.
| International
|
Angelina Jolie visits displaced Iraqis
Voting begins in key Kurdish elections
Vigil for Russia activist ends in clashes, arrest
| International
|
Twitter to pitch add-on tools to businesses
| Technology
|
Microsoft proposes letting users in EU choose browser
| Technology
|
Skype singled out as threat to Russia's security
| Technology
|
AP NewsAlert
Report blasts FEMA on storm trailer formaldehyde
Prosecutors tie Colo. tech to 19 hepatitis cases
Navy: Murder charge filed in gay seaman's death
Australia pledges 9.8 mln dlrs to Vietnam
China home builder raises $7.3 bln in largest IPO this year
India's Reliance Industries Q1 net profit down 11.6%
India's Ranbaxy's Q2 profit soars but sees year loss
Cameroon, Hyundai Eng sign $162 mln power deal
Pakistan stocks fall on delay in rate cut
Toyota US sales could top GM, but will lose money: exec
Seoul shares rise on key earnings; Samsung Elec up =2
S.Korea apartment prices up for 7th week-bank data
Dumas, Gormley, Emin donate works to charity sale
| Entertainment
|
Indonesian police in massive manhunt a week after blasts
Captain Pugwash creator Ryan dies aged 88
| Entertainment
|
Romaine Lettuce Recall Expands To All 50 States, Canada
Indonesian president wins election: official count
Cornyn, Hatch Join GOP Leaders; Won't Vote For Sotomayor
Union Leaders Defend Officer, Ask President, Governor To Apologize
Free music, sports events popular amid recession
| Entertainment
|
Suspicious Fire Destroys 32 Golf Carts At West Virginia Greens
Salzburg director to leave in 2010 for Berlin opera
Jewish group sues Amazon Germany over 'Nazi' books
Aides For Embattled Sen. Ensign Resign
Saudi girl crowned Miss Moral Beauty
Czechs pull out of Eurovision Song Contest
Chinese govt called director over Australian film boycott
Shanghai to encourage two-child families: report
Fighting to be fashionable in communist East Germany
Strike averted at Bayreuth Festival
Millions of Iraqi Kurds go to polls in key vote
French Polynesia leader questioned in graft probe
Iraqi Kurds go to polls, still at odds with Baghdad
| International
|
Iran supreme leader wants vice president sacked
Twitter schools businesses in benefits of microblogging
Ousted Zelaya sets foot back in Honduras, briefly
| International
|
California budget deal approved
US soldiers, 12 militants killed in Afghanistan
Obama, UK's Brown urge Afghan burden-sharing
| International
|
Plane hits wall at Iranian airport, killing 17
EU ministers shun French carbon tariff proposal
Privacy concerns over Google book project
Swine flu virus has spread to almost every country: WHO
Illegal Lebanon arms may have been Hezbollah's
Skype singled out as threat to Russia's security
Palm re-enables iTunes sync in Pre software update
Darfur people may be left out of Sudan election
Iran leader orders VP sacked in snub to Ahmadinejad
News Corp sees MySpace as place for videogames
Sony to invest over $1 billion in Sharp LCD unit: report
Amazon's Zappos buy seen clearing antitrust review
Sony to invest over $1 billion in Sharp LCD unit: report
Obama acts to defuse police race row
California budget deal edges closer to approval
At 40, Comic-Con grows into family affair
| Technology
|
Brown, Obama in Afghanistan talks as Britain pledges more troops
Media moguls rethink Web advertising in downturn
| Technology
|
Update: Astronauts In Fourth Spacewalk, Replace Oldest ISS Batteries
Four killed, five missing in Japan
IMF approves 2.6 bln dlr loan for Sri Lanka
Michigan Home Yields 151 Dead Dogs, 111 Live Ones
US stops giving militant death tolls in Afghanistan
Pyongyang not against talks with US: envoy
Obama Calls Cambridge Police Officer Over Gates' Arrest Controversy
Investors dump brokers to go it alone online
| Technology
|
U.S. announces £122 million in aid to Palestinians
Bok Matfield hails All Blacks before SA clash
Watson stakes Test claim for Aussies
Woman accused in cancer scam found dead
Assets remain frozen in China graft case: Namibian court
4 aboard die as helicopter crashes on Md. highway
Astronauts to install new batteries on spacewalk 4
China raises strategic ties in Russia market row
American, Japanese climbers found dead on Mt. Fuji
Military: Clashes kill 21 militants in NW Pakistan
IMF approves 2.6 bln dlr loan for Sri Lanka
Kutcher says Mischa Barton is "doing great"
Batman film in 2011? It's a mystery made for Holmes
| Entertainment
|
Hollywood studios, networks in force at Comic-Con
At 40, Comic-Con grows into family affair
| Entertainment
|
Kutcher says Mischa Barton is doing great
| Entertainment
|
Gay black writer E. Lynn Harris dead
| Entertainment
|
Jackson's hair made into diamonds -- for real
| Entertainment
|
Samsung Q2 profit rises, Hynix trims loss
Foreigner betting on Wal-Mart with new release
| Entertainment
|
Police: 3rd bomb in Jakarta attack malfunctioned
Publishers acquire Jackson autobiography rights
| Entertainment
|
Albarn rules out more Blur concerts
Songwriter Benson steps out solo with "Friend"
Foreigner betting on Wal-Mart with new release
Gay black writer E. Lynn Harris dead
Batman film in 2011? It's a mystery made for Holmes
Publishers acquire Jackson autobiography rights
At 40, Comic-Con grows into family affair
Kutcher says Mischa Barton is "doing great"
Jackson's hair made into diamonds -- for real
Jackson honoured at awards held in Austrian nuclear plant
Michigan Home Yields 151 Dead Dogs, 111 Live Ones
Diabetics Try New Treatment From Pig Cell Implants
First Panda From Frozen Sperm Born In China
Suspicious Fire Destroys 32 Golf Carts At West Virginia Greens
Michael Jackson Begged To Play Peter Pan In Theatre Musical
Before Discovering Acting, Audrey Tautou Wanted To Study Monkeys
Robert Pattinson Lost His Car
Foundation Bares 2 New Mozart Piano Compositions
Clashes after 3 suicide blasts hit Afghan town
Pressure on British PM after by-election blow
Iraqi Kurds go to polls as feud with Baghdad looms
Media moguls rethink Web advertising in downturn
Bleriot XI marks 100 years since Channel flight
Iran vows to hit Israel's atomic sites if attacked
Iran opposition urge clerics to act over detainees
| International
|
Microsoft proposes letting users in EU choose browser
Suicide bombers and gunmen attack east Afghan city
| International
|
Twitter to pitch add-on tools to businesses
Iran protester 'killed' in detention: reports
Pakistan adjourns Mumbai case for a month
| International
|
EU considers billions for poor before climate talks
| International
|
Indonesia president's rivals cry foul after poll win
| International
|
Iraqi Kurds flock to polls in key election
Bomb in Iraq's Falluja kills five and wounds 21
| International
|
Brown, Obama in Afghanistan talks
Berlusconi's lawyer denies archaeological scandal
| International
|
Kyrgyz opposition vows protests over disputed vote
| International
|
Media moguls rethink Web advertising in downturn
| Technology
|
Biden predicts Russian cooperation: report
Bush govt considered using troops for arrests: report
Convicted pastor says he's 'one of the prophets'
Pakistan c.bank sells 1 bln rupees of T-bills
RIL profits down 11.5 pct on falling margins
Tim Burton explores Alice in Wonderland
| Entertainment
|
Hyundai Heavy Q2 net profit tumbles 40 percent
Indonesia president's rivals cry foul after poll win
Megawati rejects Indonesia president's re-election
3rd bomb failed, saving lives in Jakarta attacks
Bleriot XI marks 100 years since Channel flight
British high streets under threat: lawmakers
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights