Iraqis begin voting in UAE

Dubai/Abu Dhabi: A wheel-chaired grandmother who showed up at the polling station to vote in the Iraqi National Assembly's 'democratic and free' elections that started in the UAE yesterday, hopes to return to her country soon.

"I hope the out-of-the-country election program-me helps us convey our dreams. We want a free and peaceful Iraq," Sana Fariq told Gulf News at the Global Village. Having lived in the UAE for four years, she plans to return to Iraq as soon as things are stable. "We are sure our free voices will be heard and the election is democratic," said the mother of four.

The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) is organising the election in the UAE (at Dubai and Abu Dhabi), the voting centre for Iraqis living in the Gulf Cooperation Council. The director of the voting centre in Dubai estimated that more than 1,000 voted as of 4pm.

Engineer Fatima Al Wazzan, Deputy Director of IECI in the UAE, expects 15,000 to 20,000 voters over three days. "The UAE was chosen as it's safe and has easier access in terms of visit visas and logistics." She thanked the authorities for facilitating the entry of Iraqis from other GCC countries. The director of the voting centre in Dubai, Raghda Esmail, said there are 18 polling stations at the centre. "The centre opened at 8am sharp. Voters have been queuing outside since 7.30am," she said. In each station, a supervisor was in charge of a group of six who check the personal identification data before registering the voter and handing over the list of nominees.

Raghda said the voters choose the nominees' lists and slot it in boxes before trashing the other lists. "The place is a bit far but the turnout was good till the afternoon," said Raghda. Iraqis are voting for 275-member Parliament, 230 of whom are within the country and the rest are overseas.

Gulf News interviewed a cross-section of voters, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, who unanimously hoped that the elections will bring safety and unity to Iraq.

Learning about history

Suhair M, 30, presiding officer at a voting station in Dubai, said the flow of voters was steady throughout the day. She hoped the election will change Iraq for the better and attract Iraqis to return from overseas.

"We waited a long time for this day," said Suhair, who plans to rejoin her family in two years.

Ahmad Al Shamry, in his fifties, brought along his two children to the voting station to learn about the history and future of Iraq. "I hope these elections reunite the Iraqis," said Al Shamry, who moved to the UAE two years ago.

Ina'am Abdul Khalil, schoolteacher in Dubai, hopes the elections will usher in a better future for Iraq. "I want Iraq to regain prosperity. We did not deserve what happened." Ali Zamen, 21, who came two months ago job-hunting in Dubai, said: "There is freedom now and we have to vote."

Voting in Abu Dhabi started at Shaikh Zayed Sports City at 8am amid heavy security. There are seven voting stations in the city.

"The first day was expectedly smooth," said Shukria Bajalan, Director, voting centre, Abu Dhabi. She expected around 6,000 voters, excluding voters from GCC countries. Leon Khatchik Hagob, 73, Iraqi-Armenian, said voting gave him a new sense of freedom. Dr Mohammad Hussain Ali hoped: "The election is a step from dictatorship to democracy."

At Middle Eastern and European centres, the mood was hopeful in general and voters turned out in large numbers, according to a report by AP.