Iraqi PM big winner in elections
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 06, 2009 00:00
BAGHDAD - The Iraqi prime minister's party finished first in races for ruling councils in Baghdad and eight other provinces during last weekend's provincial elections, officials said yesterday - a strong endorsement of his campaign to restore order in this war-ravaged country.
The election commission announced that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's party won 38 percent of the votes in Baghdad in Saturday's election, followed by allies of anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and a Sunni party with 9 percent each.
In Basra, the country's second biggest city, the prime minister's followers won 37 percent to 11.6 percent for the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, the biggest Shiite party.
Both cities were racked by Shiite militia violence for years until al-Maliki ordered a crackdown last spring, ending the rule of gunmen. Voters chose ruling councils in 14 of the 18 provinces in the first election since December 2005.
As a sign of continued instability, a suicide bomber blew himself up yesterday inside a crowded restaurant in a Kurdish city near the Iranian border, killing at least 12 people, Iraqi officials said. The attack in Khanaqin occurred as ethnic tensions have been rising following last weekend's elections. Kurdish and police officials said most of the victims were Kurds lunching at the popular Abu Dalshad restaurant. Police chief Col. Azad Eisa said 12 other people were wounded in the attack.
In Basra, the country's second biggest city, the prime minister's followers won 37 percent to 11.6 percent for the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, the biggest Shiite party.
Both cities were racked by Shiite militia violence for years until al-Maliki ordered a crackdown last spring, ending the rule of gunmen. Voters chose ruling councils in 14 of the 18 provinces in the first election since December 2005.
As a sign of continued instability, a suicide bomber blew himself up yesterday inside a crowded restaurant in a Kurdish city near the Iranian border, killing at least 12 people, Iraqi officials said. The attack in Khanaqin occurred as ethnic tensions have been rising following last weekend's elections. Kurdish and police officials said most of the victims were Kurds lunching at the popular Abu Dalshad restaurant. Police chief Col. Azad Eisa said 12 other people were wounded in the attack.