Cablegate: Kuwait Media Reaction: Iraqi Parliamentary

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O 180417Z DEC 05
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2207
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 005165

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TAGS: OPRC KPAO PREL KDEM IZ KMDR KU

SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI PARLIAMENTARY
ELECTIONS - WEEKEND COVERAGE

1. Summary: Over the Kuwaiti weekend, Arabic dailies
provided a low volume of coverage of the Iraqi parliamentary
elections. For the most part, offering only news of wide
participation by Sunnis. Sporadic reports of the alleged
Iranian truck full of forged ballot boxes being seized as it
attempted to cross into Iraq also appeared. The focus was
mainly on the peaceful nature of the elections and the
participation of Sunnis. End Summary.

Selected Headlines
------------------

2. Thursday, December 15, 2005

-- Al-Rai Al-Aam p. 27 "Paralysis in Iraq the night of the
parliamentary elections; 307 political entities, 19 of which
are coalitions fighting together the battle today"

-- Al-Watan front page "Iraqi elections: A decisive step
towards stability and the Sunnis participate in search of a
role"

-- Al-Watan p. 25 "The American Congress: The Iraqi
government may not be formed before April"

-- Al-Seyassah front page "Iraqis decide the future of their
country today"

-- Al-Seyassah p. 35 "The foiling of an Iranian plot to
forge Iraqi parliamentary elections"

-- Al-Anbaa p. 27 "Seizure of Iranian trucks loaded with
forged ballot boxes"

3. Friday, December 16, 2005

-- Al-Qabas front page "The intense Sunni participation
paves the way for a balanced parliament"

-- Al-Qabas p. 36 "Iraq voted quietly for the first free and
comprehensive parliament"; "Iraqi Kurds voted for their
identity"

-- Al-Rai Al-Aam front page "A historic day for Iraq"

-- Al-Rai Al-Aam p. 26 "Iraqis chose their representatives
in the second parliamentary elections since the fall of
Saddam's regime"

-- Al-Watan front page "Iraqis vote to choose their first
elected parliament: big turnout in Sunni areas increases
competition"

-- Al-Watan p. 15 "A democratic wedding in Iraq: 15 million
voted to choose their first elected parliament"

-- Al-Watan p. 17 "The elections: A struggle for power,
wealth, and influence"

-- Al-Seyassah front page "The Iraqis challenged `the
shadows of death' and elected freedom"

-- Al-Anbaa front page "Iraqis voted for sectarianism and
ethnicity amidst explosions and the results will be out next
year"

-- Al-Anbaa p. 19 "Sunnis voted intensely in Saddam's home
town to bury his era"

-- Arab Times p. 18 "Jaafari's party tipped to win"

Block Quotes
------------

4. Thursday, December 15, 2005

-- Amar Taqi wrote for the moderate daily Al-Rai Al-Aam
under the title "Allawi and the triple five list": "Today
Iraqi voters head to the ballot boxes all over Iraq for the

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third time this year. There are 7,000 candidates in 18
electoral districts competing for 275 seats. This system is
aimed to guarantee fair representation to the different
sects and ethnic groups in parliament. These elections are
different from the last ones held in that there is fierce
competition, whereas the last elections were characterized
by a relative calm. An example of the ferocity of these
elections is the attacks that the United Iraqi Coalition
List (555) has sustained and some of the `below the belt'
shots from other candidate lists. The most antagonistic has
been the National Iraqi List (731) led by the former Iraqi
Prime Minister Eiad Allawi. All we hope for is that all
parties refrain from forgery and that the election process
be carried out in an honest manner so that we see the rise
of a democratic, federal Iraq that preserves the rights of
all of its citizens without discrimination. We are all
hopeful that Iraqis will pay attention to their country's
future and what is being plotted against it by the Baathists
and Zarqawists."

5. Friday, December 16, 2005

-- Humaid Al-Malki wrote for the moderate daily Al-Rai Al-
Aam under the title "Where is the Iraqi situation heading,
and how?": "For the sake of continuing on the same path for
Iraq to achieve its goals the participation of everyone in
the political process on an equal footing is a must. Also,
the basis of participation must be nationalism without any
consideration for religion or ethnicity. Loyalty must to
Iraq as a government and a people only. Iraqis must distance
themselves from any and all divisions, because that is the
only way to guarantee their safety and security as they walk
the path of Iraqis who love their country and are loyal to
it; those who unite for rebuilding Iraq and making it
prosperous."

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