Iraqi Expat Election Riot

Nickatilynx · 01-29-2005

Riot disrupts Iraq expat ballot

Iran has the highest concentration of expatriate voters
A riot has broken out at a polling station in Sydney, Australia, between expatriate Iraqi voters and protesters opposed to the poll.
The disturbance broke out when a group of 20 protesters started to shout insults at voters leaving the centre.

Iraqis around the world have been going to the polls in a second day of voting.

Almost 30% of those registered to vote in 14 countries around the world turned out on Friday. Voting will continue until Sunday evening.

About one quarter of the estimated 1.2m Iraqis living abroad have registered to vote.

"If we don't vote, who else would come forward to define the future of Iraq?" said Leo Bahribeh, voting with his father at a military base in California.

Bernie Hogan, head of Australia's overseas voting programme, said the protesters held flags similar to those seen in videos released by Iraqi insurgents.

An Iraqi adviser to the International Organization for Migration, which is organising the out-of-country voting, said the fight was sparked when protesters took pictures of people who had voted.

"This is scary for the people," said Thair Wali.

Tired of war

The largest number of expatriate Iraqis is concentrated in Iran, where 61,000 have registered to vote. IRAQ'S EXPAT VOTERS
Australia: 11,806
Canada: 10,957
Denmark: 12,983
France: 1,041
Germany: 26,416
Iran: 60,908
Jordan: 20,166
Netherlands:14,725
Sweden: 31,045
Syria: 16,581
Turkey: 4,187
UAE: 12,581
UK: 30,961
US: 25,946

"We are hopeful that we can have a democracy after all the years of Saddam... Iraqis are sick of foreign and civil wars," Wajih Majidi, voting in Tehran, told Reuters.

The IOM reported that 34.1% of Iraqis registered in Iran had voted on Friday.

In the United Kingdom, where only 17.3% voted on Friday, buses were expected to bring voters to centres in London, Manchester and Glasgow on Saturday.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-29-2005	#1
Nickatilynx Banned Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 15,115	Riot disrupts Iraq expat ballot Iran has the highest concentration of expatriate voters A riot has broken out at a polling station in Sydney, Australia, between expatriate Iraqi voters and protesters opposed to the poll. The disturbance broke out when a group of 20 protesters started to shout insults at voters leaving the centre. Iraqis around the world have been going to the polls in a second day of voting. Almost 30% of those registered to vote in 14 countries around the world turned out on Friday. Voting will continue until Sunday evening. About one quarter of the estimated 1.2m Iraqis living abroad have registered to vote. "If we don't vote, who else would come forward to define the future of Iraq?" said Leo Bahribeh, voting with his father at a military base in California. Bernie Hogan, head of Australia's overseas voting programme, said the protesters held flags similar to those seen in videos released by Iraqi insurgents. An Iraqi adviser to the International Organization for Migration, which is organising the out-of-country voting, said the fight was sparked when protesters took pictures of people who had voted. "This is scary for the people," said Thair Wali. Tired of war The largest number of expatriate Iraqis is concentrated in Iran, where 61,000 have registered to vote. IRAQ'S EXPAT VOTERS Australia: 11,806 Canada: 10,957 Denmark: 12,983 France: 1,041 Germany: 26,416 Iran: 60,908 Jordan: 20,166 Netherlands:14,725 Sweden: 31,045 Syria: 16,581 Turkey: 4,187 UAE: 12,581 UK: 30,961 US: 25,946 "We are hopeful that we can have a democracy after all the years of Saddam... Iraqis are sick of foreign and civil wars," Wajih Majidi, voting in Tehran, told Reuters. The IOM reported that 34.1% of Iraqis registered in Iran had voted on Friday. In the United Kingdom, where only 17.3% voted on Friday, buses were expected to bring voters to centres in London, Manchester and Glasgow on Saturday.