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Ethnic divisions expected to show

Dec-16-2005 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

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By Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune

MOSUL, Iraq -- Manal Yahia cast her ballot Thursday for a candidate whose name she feared to speak.

In this northern city that has been jaggedly divided along religious and ethnic lines, Yahia, a Sunni, didn't believe it was wise to make it widely known that she was backing a secular Shiite.

"You know, with some of these people, I don't know how they would respond if I were to tell them I am voting for him," said Yahia, who quietly confirmed she was voting for former interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. "It has been difficult to be optimistic for Iraq, but today I am hoping that we are celebrating our country's wedding." [...]

On Thursday, both Sunni Arabs and Kurds in Mosul said they were prevented from going to polls.

The U.S. military, which was providing security Thursday, received reports that large numbers of voters were being turned away after being told that they didn't have the proper registration. At one polling site in a predominantly Kurdish neighborhood, it appeared only Arab voters were being turned away. Kurdish voters made similar protests of being blocked from the polls in some Arab neighborhoods.

"If the Americans and Shiites want a certain candidate, they'll be sure to get that candidate," said Hamid Kareem, a Sunni voter.

Lt. Col. Charles Webster, commander of the U.S. 172nd Stryker Brigade overseeing much of eastern Mosul, acknowledged some problems but said he did not believe a significant number of voters were affected.

Though there were several booms in the early morning hours from mortar attacks and roadside bombs targeting polling sites and Iraqi security forces, the U.S. military reported few significant incidents in the city. One man was killed by a mortar that was intended for a polling station near the hospital where the man worked.


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