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OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHKU #5165/01 3520417
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 180417Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2207
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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 3032
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0934
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RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 005165 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, 
B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN 
USAID/ANE/MEA 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
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 
 
KUWAIT 00005165  002 OF 002 
 
 
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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