Reply #6: Iraq poll result gives US new headache

[leftchick]

http://smh.com.au/news/world/iraq-poll-result-gives-us-new-headache/2006/01/22/1137864806846.html

DISAPPOINTED by the election performance of Iraq's moderate parties, the US has settled on a more modest goal as Iraqi leaders divide power in a new government: preventing religious or nationalist parties from gaining a stronghold over the army and police.

Official election results released on Friday showed that an alliance of Shiite religious parties will be the largest bloc in Iraq's parliament but will have to negotiate with other factions to form a coalition government.

The Shiite coalition, the United Iraqi Alliance, won 128 seats in the 275-member parliament, more than twice as many as any other group, but 10 seats short of the minimum required to form a government.

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US officials are particularly uneasy about the influence of Mr Sadr, who controls the Mahdi Army - one of the largest militias. They are also concerned that militias with ties to Iran, including the Badr Corps, would have power over the country's military and police.

The fear is that such ties could alienate Sunni Arabs, sparking violence and slowing efforts to withdraw US forces.