Shi'ites seal power, Baghdad in security clampdown

[ECH1969]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's Shi'ite Islamists were confirmed in power by election results on Friday that gave them a near-majority and opened the way for U.S.-backed negotiations with Kurds and Sunni Arabs on a national unity government.

With Baghdad all but sealed off by security forces on alert for attacks by Sunni rebels who accused the ruling Shi'ite Alliance of cheating in last month's poll, two civilians were killed in one of several bomb attacks on U.S. and Iraqi patrols.

Sunni politician Hussein al-Falluji, accusing U.S. officials of pressuring international monitors to cover up massive fraud, said negotiations would be tough but would go ahead.

http://www.metronews.ca/reuters_international.asp?id=123798