VZCZCXRO2863
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHIHL #0012/01 0261302
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 261302Z JAN 06
FM REO HILLAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0529
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0514
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH 0576

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HILLAH 000012 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  1/26/2016 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: WASIT ELECTION RESULTS REACTION: UIA/555 SAVORS CONFIRMATION 
OF OVERWHELMING VICTORY 
 
 
HILLAH 00000012  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Alfred Fonteneau, RC, REO Al Hillah, Department 
of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b) 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Members of the Shi'a Islamist United Iraqi 
Alliance/555 list savored the overwhelming victory of their 
slate after election results were announced on January 20. The 
UIA/555 won seven of the eight seats allocated to the province, 
with Ayad Allawi's National Iraqi List/671 picking up the 
remaining seat (biographic information to follow septel). 
Unsurprisingly, representatives of the UIA/555 slate, led by 
Wasit Deputy Governor Mohammed al-Khateeb, hailed the election 
as free and fair, while Allawi officials again expressed their 
bitterness and frustration over alleged improprieties. Wasit 
representatives, with the possible exception of the al-Khateeb, 
are all relatively unknown and will likely maintain a low 
profile in Baghdad as coalition negotiations continue and the 
new assembly begins its work. END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
TRIUMPH CONFIRMED: WASIT UIA/555 REPS PLAN FOR FUTURE 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶2. (C) Wasit Deputy Governor Mohammed al-Khateeb, leader of the 
Wasit UIA/555 list, in conversations with Regional Embassy 
Office staff, was overjoyed at the confirmation of his slate's 
electoral success, calling the elections a "successful 
experiment for the Iraqi and Arab nation.".  Al-Khateeb 
indicated that he supported all attempts to form a national 
unity government incorporating the views of all Iraqis. However, 
he also related his frustration with Sunni Arab slates that, in 
his opinion, were attempting to exert more influence than their 
share of the election results warranted. Al-Khateeb was 
dismissive of Alawi claims of electoral fraud, asserting that 
the UIA/555 list was also the victim of dirty tricks and fraud 
and that the level of fraud was not enough to impact the result 
of the elections. 
 
¶3. (C) Fadilha party member Dr. Basim Sharif also dismissed 
allegations of fraud and manipulation. Sharif is currently a 
member of the TNA, and the only Fadilha member from Wasit 
awarded a seat on December 15.  He declined to comment on the 
commitment of his party to remain a member of the UIA/555. 
Sharif also indicated that Fadilha party head Nadim Al-Jabari 
would soon drop his bid to become Prime Minister and cede his 
support to Adel Abid Al-Mehdi. 
 
-------------------------------- 
ALLAWI SLATE BITTER BUT RESIGNED 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Representatives of former Interim Prime Minister Ayad 
Allawi's National Iraqi List/671 continued to level claims that 
their candidates had been unfairly disadvantaged by the tactics 
of the UIA/555, complaining of voter intimidation, character 
defamation, and illegal removal of campaign posters. Shaykh 
Jamal Abd Al-Mehdi Batik, the only member of the National Iraqi 
List from Wasit to secure a place in the new parliament, and 
outgoing TNA member Shaykh Ma'ad Jasim Mizher al-Sumarmed 
expressed their frustration not only with their opponents, but 
the unwillingness, in their opinion, of the IECI and 
international observers to condemn illegal tactics and 
campaigning. That said, Shaykh Jamal conceded the results of the 
election were final and that it was "time to move on". He also 
urged the U.S. to use its influence to prevent candidates with 
militia ties from controlling the security ministries. 
 
 
----------------------------------- 
WASIT GOVERNOR: I WAS A CANDIDATE? 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Wasit Governor Lateef Turfa, in a meeting on January 22, 
continued to distance himself from his decision to run as 
candidate on the slate of Prime Minister Ja'afari's spokesman 
Laith Kubba. According to Turfa, his decision was a personal 
favor to Kubba. In general, Turfa was extremely pleased with the 
fairness and efficiency of the election and thought the results 
accurately reflected the political opinions of Wasit.  The 
Governor preferred to focus on what he thought were his 
excellent ties with PM Ja'afari and recent promises from the 
central government for increased funding for Wasit. (NOTE: Since 
PM Ja'fari's visit to Wasit in December, rumors abound in Wasit 
that Governor Turfa may move to Baghdad to take a position in a 
Ja'afari led government. END NOTE.) 
 
¶6. COMMENT. The release of the official election results merely 
confirms the overwhelmingly dominant position Shi'a Islamist 
parties' hold over Wasit. As a group, the new 
parliamentarians-with the possible exception of Deputy Governor 
Al-Khateeb-are relatively unknown. In any case, both the elected 
 
HILLAH 00000012  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
representative and the voters of Wasit province have high 
expectations that the new government will bring results for what 
they feel is a neglected corner of Iraq.  At this point, a major 
role on the national stage for any member of the Wasit 
delegation would be surprising. As the glow of the election 
victory fades and planned local elections approach, rival 
constituent elements of the UIA--in particular the Badr 
Organization and the Sadrists-will be hard-pressed to prevent 
renewed tensions that have been the flashpoint for past violence 
in the province. The outlook for secular parties remains bleak. 
END COMMENT. 
FONTENEAU