SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The United States on Monday condemned threats of violence against members of the United Nations and Iraq’s electoral commission, calling for respect of the rule of law.
“We join the international community in condemning the threats of violence against the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), the Independent High Electoral Commission, and other Iraqis,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement.
Following the announcement of initial results in Iraq’s October 10 elections, militia groups that failed to secure their seats threatened to respond if the IHEC does not correct the results, accusing the U.N. and UAE of interfering in the elections.
The European Union and U.N. Security Council separately deplored the threats of violence.
“Such violent manifestations have no place in a democracy,” the EU said in a statement.
The U.S. state department also urged Iraqi parties to respect the rule of law and the integrity of the electoral process.
It also congratulated Iraqis and the federal government for a “secure, technically sound, and largely peaceful election process”.
“Iraq’s election was an opportunity for Iraqi voters to determine their future through a government that reflects their will,” the state department said.
“The United States looks forward to working with the new government once formed to strengthen our strategic partnership on our many shared interests, including Iraq’s stability and sovereignty, economic empowerment, anti-corruption efforts, energy independence, climate, and the protection of human rights.”
On October 16, several Shia parties toughened their tone, accusing the electoral commission of not correcting “major violations” in the vote counting, and blaming it for “the failure of the electoral process”, warning of negative repercussions on democracy.
The big winner in the election, with more than 70 spots in the 329-seat parliament, was Sadrist movement of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Al-Fateh Alliance, the political arm of the multi-party Hashid al-Shaabi, won around 15 seats in the elections, according to preliminary results. In the last parliament it had 48, which made it the second largest bloc.
In the election’s biggest surprise, Nouri al-Maliki, an ally of Hashid and a figure close to Iran, won more than 30 seats in the parliament.
