Iraq vote complaints top 200 : U.S.-election fair, parties-results suspect

[Algorem]

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/world/12/18iraq.html

or

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/dead-men-voted-in-poll-claim-iraq-parties/2005/12/18/1134840742751.html

THE WASHINGTON POST

Sunday, December 18, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq — As the United States portrayed last week's election in Iraq as a resounding success, Iraqi political parties complained Saturday of violations including dead men voting and murder in the streets.

The Iraqi electoral commission said it had received more than 200 complaints before today's deadline for filing grievances. A commission spokesman said many are "exaggerated," but political parties from all parts of the country said violence and fraud made the outcome suspect.

"We have documented violations, threats and breaches," said Mehdi Hafedh, an official of former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's secular party.

At almost the same time, the coalition of Shiite Muslim religious parties that is vying to retain its majority in parliament warned that it would not accept results that it deems fraudulent...

[NashVegas]

1. By US Standards

200 complaints is nothing.

[Robert Cooper]

2. One of them would be...

...that truck of fraudulent ballots.

Americans are more sophisticated, thanks to Diebold ;-)

[chelsea0011]

3. Be real. How many Iraqi votes will never get counted? 25%?

[Barrett808]

4. Reports suggest UIA is close to an absolute majority

This may be a last-ditch attempt to derail total Shi'a ascendancy.