DATE=3/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ ELECTIONS (L)
NUMBER=2-260653
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


/// ED'S: POLLS CLOSE AT 17 UTC / NOON WASHINGTON 
TIME.  PRELIMINARY RESULTS A FEW HOURS LATER. WATCH 
FOR UPDATES ///

INTRO:  In Iraq, voters are going (went) to the polls 
to elect a new national assembly, for the second time 
since the Gulf War ended nine-years ago.  
Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from our Middle East 
Bureau in Cairo that results from the 15-hundred 
polling stations are expected to be announced a few 
hours after polls close.

TEXT:  Most of Iraq's nine-million eligible voters 
cast ballots (Monday) in an election that the official 
news media cast as a vote of solidarity for President 
Saddam Hussein.  Many voters said the economy was the 
main issue and expressed hope for an end to economic 
sanctions that have reduced per-capita production to 
one-fifth its level 10-years ago.

Five-hundred candidates were running for 220-seats in 
the next assembly.  Election officials said one-fourth 
of these are members of the ruling Baath Party.  The 
remainder are independents who support the government.

The president is to appoint delegates to the remaining 
30-seats, representing three provinces in northern 
Iraq that are controlled by Kurdish rebels.

The president's son, Udai, made his political debut, 
running for the first time for a seat in Baghdad 
district.

Campaigning was minimal.  Rallies and manifestos were 
banned and candidates had only limited access to the 
news media.

The national assembly has little power.  It debates 
policy and makes recommendations to the Revolutionary 
Command Council, a panel of primarily military leaders 
that has governed Iraq for 32-years.   (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/GE/RAE 



27-Mar-2000 10:11 AM EDT (27-Mar-2000 1511 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.