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Article: Shiite bloc winning big in Iraq: Ruling slate leads in early returns; Sunni predicts `disaster'.
- Article from:
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL)
- Article date:
- December 20, 2005
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Chicago Tribune. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune
Dec. 20--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 ...