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Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi troops cast ballots

Iraqi security members arrive to cast their vote at a polling station, two days before polls open to the public in a parliamentary election in Baghdad, Iraq May 10, 2018. (Reuters)
Updated 11 May 2018
SUADAD AL-SALHY
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Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi troops cast ballots

  • The number of security troops allowed to take part in the special vote is 943,639.
  • While the main polling takes place on Saturday, the “special voting” for servicemen from various branches of the military and security forces, takes place two days earlier.
Updated 11 May 2018
SUADAD AL-SALHY

BAGHDAD: Hundreds of thousands of security personnel voted on Thursday in Iraq’s parliamentary elections.

Voting was also under way for Iraqi expatriates in 19 countries, including London.

While the main polling takes place on Saturday, the “special voting” for servicemen from various branches of the military and security forces, takes place two days earlier. 

According to the Independent Higher Election Commission (IHEC), around 940,000 troops are eligible to vote. The polling also allows 26,000 prisoners to cast their ballots.

The commission said turnout had been 78 percent.

Around 150 000 fighters belonging to the Shiite-dominated paramilitary troops that fought Daesh alongside the government, were not allowed to participate in the special voting but will be allowed to vote on Saturday.

The voting went smoothly with no security incidents across the country. 

In Baghdad, the movement of people and vehicles appeared to be normal and no new or unusual security measures were imposed.

A long queue of military vehicles lined the streets leading to polling stations and hundreds of soldiers and police stood and relaxed near their cars.

"I have been here for three hours, the process is very slow and the center is very hot, but finally my turn came and I voted,” Salah Nasif, a police commissioner, told Arab News in one of the special voting poll stations in Baghdad.  

“I voted for the person who served us. Maliki (the former prime minister) appointed me and raised our salaries, so I choose him,” Nasif said. 

Complaints came from several provinces of technical problems and voting was interrupted at dozens of stations.

Also, many of the soldiers and police could not find their names on lists sent to polling stations, so they were not allowed to vote.

“This is a mess. After all this waiting since early morning, they told me I am not allowed to vote,” Median Kareem, a local policeman, told Arab News. “It’s not just me, many other colleagues were not allowed to vote because of these errors.”

IHEC said that anyone who had been unable to find their name in their polling stations would be allowed to vote on Saturday. 

 

Topics: Iraq troops BALLOTS elections Iraq Elections 2018

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Lebanon says France to host conference to support army

Updated 3 sec ago
AFP
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Lebanon says France to host conference to support army

  • Lebanon said Wednesday that a conference in support of the country’s army as it seeks to disarm militant group Hezbollah would take place in Paris on March 5
Updated 3 sec ago
AFP
BEIRUT: Lebanon said Wednesday that a conference in support of the country’s army as it seeks to disarm militant group Hezbollah would take place in Paris on March 5.
The announcement follows recent promises of support to the military, which lacks funds, equipment and technical expertise.
Presidency spokeswoman Najat Charafeddine said President Joseph Aoun met French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian, Saudi envoy Yazid bin Farhan and ambassadors including from the US, Egypt and Qatar, discussing preparations for “a conference to support the Lebanese army and internal security forces.”
“It was decided to hold the conference in Paris on March 5, to be opened by French President Emmanuel Macron,” she said at the presidential palace.
Under US pressure and fearing expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which was badly weakened in more than a year of hostilities with Israel that largely ended in late 2024.
Last week, Lebanon’s army said it had completed the first phase of its plan to disarm the group, covering the area south of the Litani river, around 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border.
A plan for the disarmament north of the Litani is to be presented to cabinet next month.
Israel, which accuses Hezbollah or rearming, has criticized the army’s progress as insufficient, while Hezbollah has rejected calls to surrender its weapons.
Lebanon’s army has dismantled tunnels and other military infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah near the Israeli border in recent months, seizing weapons and ammunition, despite its limited capacities.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah, and has maintained troops in five south Lebanon areas it deems strategic.
Last month, talks with international envoys in Paris touched on the Lebanese army’s needs, while its chief agreed to document its progress in disarming Hezbollah.

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