Month: January 2005

Total 15 Posts

Some Just Voted for Food

BAGHDAD, Jan 31 (IPS) – Voting in Baghdad was linked with receipt of food rations, several voters said after the Sunday poll. Many Iraqis said Monday that their names were marked on a list provided by the government agency that provides monthly food rations before they were allowed to vote.

EYEWITNESS: BAGHDAD

Violence continues to plague Iraq’s capital on the eve of the election, but still some residents are determined to vote. By Dahr Jamail As violence continues unabated in the lead up to the elections, hope continues to drive many here who fully intend to vote in spite of the daily car bombs and fierce street

Some See Hope, Others Civil War

BAGHDAD — Some Iraqis are hoping for a new unity following elections Jan. 30, but others seem convinced that existing divisions will increase, leading possibly to civil war. While hundreds of thousands of Kurdish people are traveling from northern Iraq to Kirkuk to vote, many families in Baghdad are leaving the city in fear of

Vote Where, How, and for Whom?

BAGHDAD — With elections just four days away, many Iraqis are still uncertain how they will vote, or even where the polling stations are. The only certainty appears to be violence. Another political assassination took place when judge Qais Hashim al-Shammari was killed with his brother-in-law as he was leaving his house in eastern Baghdad

Iraqi Women Paying the Price

Kidnapping has become the crime of choice amongst Iraqi criminal gangs. With 70% unemployment in “liberated” Iraq, crime is running rampant, with organized crime enjoying a free hand amidst the terrible security situation. The families of the kidnapped are at times forced to pay up to several million dollars ransom—unless they want to receive pieces

Bending it

Kevin Benderman is a mechanic who is trained to fix Bradley armored vehicles. On December 20, 2004, he applied for conscientious objector status. Yesterday he made time to talk with us about his decision. Omar Khan: Kindly tell us your name and a little about your background—your age, where you live, where you born and

Election Divides a Nation

BAGHDAD — The elections due Jan. 30 appear to have brought more chaos and division amongst Iraqis than unity and hope. And they have brought greater security fears. U.S.-appointed prime minister Iyad Allawi acknowledged last week that full security will be impossible. This despite the rather draconian measures his interim government will have in place.