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Car Bomb Kills 3 Ahead of Iraq Election

   VOA News 06 March 2010
   Iraqi security forces and officials inspect the scene after a car bomb
   exploded near a bus for pilgrims in Najaf, 06 Mar 2010

Photo: AP

   Iraqi security forces and officials inspect the scene after a car bomb
   exploded near a bus for pilgrims in Najaf, 06 Mar 2010

   Iraqi  officials  say  a  car bomb has killed at least three people in
   Najaf, a city holy to Shi'ite Muslims, the day before voting is set to
   begin in Iraq's national election.
   The  blast  wounded  more  than  50  others Saturday near the Imam Ali
   shrine, which is heavily visited by Iranian and Iraqi pilgrims.
   The dead included two Iranians and one Iraqi.
   Separate  bombings  near  Baghdad  polling stations killed at least 15
   people Thursday.
   The attacks occurred despite increased security ahead of the election.

   An  al-Qaida group, the Islamic State of Iraq, posted a message on the
   Internet  warning Sunni Muslims they face violence if they head to the
   polls on Sunday.
   It  said  participation  in  the country's parliamentary election will
   only empower majority Shi'ite Muslims.
   Nevertheless,  Iraqi  religious  leaders are urging their followers to
   vote  in  the  election, with some telling worshippers voting is their
   religious duty.
   United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also called on all Iraqis
   to  head  to the polls Sunday, saying a strong voter mandate will be a
   powerful  message in support of stability and prosperity for the Iraqi
   people.
   The  nationwide  poll  is  widely  seen as a test of Iraq's ability to
   maintain security and conduct a smooth transition of power.
   On   Friday,   Iraqi   Prime   Minister  Nouri  al-Maliki  touted  his
   government's  accomplishments, including security improvements and the
   Iraqi-U.S.  security  agreement that calls for U.S. troops to withdraw
   by the end of this year.
   U.S.   Secretary   of   State   Hillary   Clinton   said   Friday  any
   election-related  violence  or political turmoil would not impact U.S.
   plans to pull out of Iraq.
   The  vote  is only the second parliamentary election in Iraq since the
   U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein in 2003.
   Millions  of  Iraqis  living  overseas  in  14  countries began voting
   Friday, with many living in Syria and Jordan.
   Unlike  the  previous  national  election  in  2005  when Iraqi Sunnis
   boycotted  the  polls, many Sunnis say they plan to participate.  Many
   Iraqi politicians have also been running campaigns that attempt to cut
   across sectarian lines.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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