Shiite religious bloc winning big, Sunni predicts "disaster"

[Inland]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0512200266dec20,1,5137025.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

Shiite bloc winning big in Iraq
Ruling slate leads in early returns; Sunni predicts `disaster'

By Aamer Madhani, Tribune staff reporter. Nadeem Majeed contributed to this report
Published December 20, 2005


BAGHDAD -- Iraq's ruling Shiite religious bloc has taken an overwhelming lead in last week's election and appears destined to retain a strong grip on the government, according to early vote results released Monday by the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq.

Sunni leaders expressed deep disappointment in the partial results from 11 of the 18 provinces and charged that there had been voter intimidation by the United Iraqi Alliance, the leading Shiite religious bloc that has ties with Iran.

The early returns in the parliamentary election also appeared to dash the hopes of Ayad Allawi, the secular Shiite and American favorite who was hoping to play the spoiler.

The poor showing by Sunni candidates was unsettling news to U.S. and Iraqi officials who had hoped that Sunni political engagement would stem the insurgency and help unify a country that is increasingly separated by sectarian tensions.