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Iranian Al-Alam TV "Iraq Today" Programme on Iraqi Elections

Posted on: Friday, 16 December 2005, 18:00 CST

Iranian Arabic-language Al-Alam TV "Iraq Today" programme discussed yesterday's parliamentary elections in Iraq. The programme was broadcast live from Baghdad and was presented by Husayn Murtadha. The two guests in the studio were writer and political analyst Abbas al-Yasri and researcher and legal expert Qasim al- Abbudi. A number of Iraqis phoned to congratulate the Iraqi people on the "success of the election process". The guests and those who participated in the programme by phone seemed to be jubilant about the "overwhelming victory" of the Shi'i United Iraqi Alliance.

From the outset, Al-Abbudi said the more than 70 per cent turnout was unprecedented in comparison with any elections worldwide. Both guests attributed this high turnout to the [Shi'i] religious authorities' support for the election process. The guests also seemed to agree that the popularity of the Shi'i alliance was due to its leadership's peaceful struggle against Saddam's regime.

Both Al-Abbudi and Al-Yasri expected a resounding victory of the United Iraqi Alliance. Al-Yasri argued that such victory would be offered by the Iraqi people who long to security and who want Ba'thists to be uprooted and Saddam tried. He predicted that the alliance would secure some 130 seats in comparison with 40-45 seats to the Kurds and 20-25 seats to the Iraqi List.

An Iraqi from Basra who lives in the United Arab Emirates phoned to urge the political alliances and parties "to close ranks, to forget about sectarianism and to think about this oppressed people". Another Iraqi phoned from Baghdad to congratulate the Iraqi people "for this great victory". A third caller pleaded to the United Iraqi Alliance to provide "security and stability to the Iraqi people and to avoid discrimination among Iraqi factions". He urged the alliance to use the "huge Iraqi wealth to benefit the Iraqi people".

Al-Abbudi said the future Iraqi parliament has the "duty to serve the Iraqi people".

A caller from Basra congratulated "Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim, Muqtada al-Sadr, Shaykh al-Ya'qubi, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari and the entire United Iraqi Alliance for this victory". Then he attacked Al-Jazeera TV and "all the hateful terrorists".

Another caller from Germany congratulated the Iraqi people for the sweeping victory of the United Iraqi Alliance. He then attacked US which had "toppled Saddam Husayn and wants to bring another Saddam". He also attacked Iyad Allawi who "bribed and rigged elections but who will be faced by disappointment".

A caller from Iran congratulated the Shi'i religious scholars "for this great victory of Islam, particularly Shi'is". He then attacked the "corrupt Al-Jazeera TV which is financed by Qatari emirs".

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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