City 'more dangerous than Basra' - Manchester Evening News

Politicians and police in Manchester have laughed off a military commander's comments that the city is more dangerous than Basra.

Major General Andy Salmon, the commander of British troops in Iraq, said violent crime had fallen to such an extent in the country's second city that it was “less dangerous” than Manchester.

Maj Gen Salmon told a newspaper: “On a per-capita basis, if you look at the violence statistics, it is less dangerous than Manchester.”

The comments sparked bemusement from members of the Making Manchester Safer partnership - made up of organisations such as the city council, Greater Manchester Police and the fire and probation services.

A police source said the force's top brass laughed at the Royal Marine Commando's comparison and described it as “nonsense and unrealistic”.

The force did not want to make an official comment but issued figures showing from 1 January 2008 to 16 November 2008 there were 46 murders across the patch.

Police added that a “significant” proportion of those were committed by people who knew their victims.

According to British military estimates, there were 11 murders in Basra last month alone - with only one linked to extremist groups.

Deputy leader of Manchester City Council, councillor Jim Battle, said: “We hold our military personnel in high regard and recognise they are doing a fantastic job.“Making any comparisons with a conflict zone and a British city is not helpful at all.”

Click here for the Manchester Evening News

Tannumah bridge work starts

A significant step in the development of Basra started today when work began on a new bridge over the Shatt al Arab waterway, connecting the city centre to the At Tannumah district. A brick laying ceremony marked the start of the project and was attended by a raft of dignitaries, government officials and local media.

“This is a statement that Basra, as far as the future is concerned, is going to be exciting and rosy,” said General Andy Salmon, General Officer Commanding Multi-National Division (South East).

The At Tannumah bridge will replace pontoon-style bridges, providing far better access and higher volumes of residential and commercial traffic

The bridge has also been designed to be raised to allow shipping access to the port of Al Maqil in the northern part of Basra. Access to the port will provide a considerable boost to the local economy, creating up to 1000 jobs at the port, increasing trade and enabling further investment in the city.

Construction of the bridge is expected to take approximately 18 months and will be run by an Iraqi contractor, Ibn Majid.

Iraq: Basra is less dangerous than Manchester, British general says - Telegraph

Basra is now less dangerous than Manchester, the general commanding British troops in Iraq has said.

By James Kirkup in Basra

Maj Gen Andy Salmon told The Daily Telegraph that following months of steady improvements in the security situation in Iraq's second city, the rate of violent crime and murder in Basra has fallen below some major British cities.

"On a per capita basis, if you look at the violence statistics, it is less dangerous than Manchester," he said, hailing a "radical transformation" in Iraq's prospects.

Since an Iraqi government offensive largely routed violent insurgent groups in Basra last May, British officials in Iraq say that the city has become ever more secure and stable and the Iraqi security forces increasingly competent.

In the latest sign of progress after years of insurgent attacks on British and Iraqi forces, local elections last month passed off without significant violence.

"In a nutshell, Basra is stable," said Maj Gen Salmon.

The general, a Royal Marine Commando, also jokingly compared Basra and Stockwell in south London where he once lived. Asked where he would rather spend a Saturday night, he replied: "Downtown Basra, in the restaurants, enjoying myself."

He said: "It's pretty normal down there: people going about their business, the nights bustle, people are enjoying themselves, kids are playing in parks. People are concerned about the normal things you'd be concerned by: jobs, the delivery of essential services, their future prosperity."

The improved security situation was witnessed by Bob Ainsworth, the Armed Forces minister, who this week visited Basra. Previously, visiting ministers have been confined to secure military bases, but Mr Ainsworth was able to walk the streets of the city and meet locals.

Almost every one of the Iraqis Mr Ainsworth spoke to named the economy and unemployment as their main concern instead of the security worries that predominated in earlier years.

Mr Ainsworth said he had seen "nothing but progress" on his visit and said his walkabout was proof that Basra has been transformed.

He said he was concerned that British people did not realise how much southern Iraq has changed in recent months. "Most people back home haven't caught up with the reality of what has gone on on the ground," he said.

Maj Gen Salmon said the improving security situation is largely down to the presence of very large Iraqi army and police forces: there are more than 30,000 Iraqi security forces in a city of more than 2 million. He said: "The risks are diminishing on a monthly basis. Security, as far as the population is concerned, has ceased to be a concern."

According to British military estimates, the murder rate in Basra fell from 22 in October to 11 in January. Only one of January's deaths has been linked to extremist groups; the rest were "old-fashioned" crimes.

Maj Gen Salmon will be Britain's last general officer commanding forces in Iraq. Starting next month, he will oversee the withdrawal of all but around 400 troops who will remain to train Iraqi forces.

Accepting that the British presence in Iraq since the 2003 invasion has been intensely controversial, the general insisted that the results are now positive.

"We have been through some ups and downs, but the fact is, we have stayed and endured and we have ridden the ups and downs," he said. "We had an opportunity to get behind the Iraqis, get them on their feet. That's what we have done."

After the UK "drawdown," the main British base outside Basra will be taken over by American forces.

Maj Gen Salmon was insistent that there is no question of the British leaving with tasks unfinished, forcing the Americans to take over their work.

Both Basra and Greater Manchester have around 2.5 million people.

According to Greater Manchester Police, there were 46 murders in Greater Manchester in the last 11 months of 2008 alone.

However, the total number of violent attacks was 6.4 per cent down on the previous year.

The number of robberies increased. Between April and June 2008 here were 270 such crimes, compared to 285 between July and September.

British troops prepare Iraq withdrawal - BBC

British troops are training and mentoring the Iraqi army ahead of the final departure of the British Army on 31 July.

As the UK announces its withdrawal from Iraq,an overall judgement of its deployment should be a favourable one.

Armed Forces Minister sees a secure Basra

Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth visited downtown Basra this week to see for himself how UK forces have helped to transform the city.

During his visit Mr Ainsworth personally thanked members of The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and 26 Regiment Royal Artillery for their continued contribution as Military Transition Teams or 'MITTs' operating in Basra, mentoring their Iraqi counterparts. He also met some key Iraqi officials, including General Mohammed, the top officer commanding Iraqi forces in Basra.

2009 is a milestone year for Iraq. It is the first time that provincial and local elections are taking place that are entirely Iraqi-run, with Iraqi Security Forces providing the security. This is also the first time an Iraqi election has been run under an 'open list' system, resulting in new faces and, in particular, younger candidates.

Mr Ainsworth said:

"I came here a year ago and Basra was still a troubled place. It is now a testament to the success of the UK's transition strategy that Iraqis are solving Iraqi problems and Basra is now a secure city.

"Democracy is flourishing and people can now go about their daily business. I have seen that today with my own eyes. Our task was to get them to the point where Iraqis had a realistic prospect of success; to improve the situation on the ground while helping to train strong and credible security forces. UK personnel have made a fantastic contribution to the progress seen today in Iraq, and their sacrifices and efforts will be remembered."

Mr Ainsworth's visit coincides with the Iraqi provincial voting earlier this week. He was keen to speak to Iraqis, officials and commanders about their continued, combined efforts towards building on the economy, governance and military development.

During the visit he met with MITT teams on a city tour in Basra and spoke to personnel at Basra Palace. Mr Ainsworth was also flown by helicopter to the Basra Operations Centre, where the Iraqis co-ordinate and run their security activities.

US Commander thanks UK for contribution to Iraq and Afghanistan

General David Petraeus, Commander of the US Central Command, thanked the UK for its military and non-military contribution to progress that has been made in Iraq and Afghanistan, yesterday.

The General expressed his appreciation of the UK's contribution when he met British Defence Secretary John Hutton and other civilian and military leaders at the Ministry of Defence to discuss routine business.

The visit was a routine stop as part of a larger visit by the General to visit other NATO allies. A wide range of important issues were discussed at the MOD and General Petraeus said:

"The visit highlights Central Command's engagement with our NATO partners to reiterate the strategic importance of the alliance and the critical role it plays in the Mid-East region and especially in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The United Kingdom is a strategic partner and we value the strong military and civilian co-operation between our two countries that advances our common goals of peace and security in the Mid-East. We have in recent years stood together against forces and elements that have sought to destabilise the region.

"The significance of the United Kingdom's contribution should not be underestimated. Its military activities and non-military assistance have been instrumental in successful capacity- building and the progress that we have made in various endeavours.

"I want to thank the UK in particular for the great contribution it has made, military and non-military, in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Moqtada al-Sadr 'to suffer heavy defeat in Iraq election' - Telegraph

Moqtada al-Sadr, the firebrand Iraqi cleric, who once posed the greatest threat to British influence in Iraq, has suffered a significant defeat in the country's local elections, results are set to show.

By James Kirkup in Basra

British military and intelligence officials in Iraq are confident that Mr Sadr's political allies have been all but routed in the elections.

Iraq held local elections last weekend which passed off largely peacefully with results set to be formally declared on Feb 22.

Unofficial accounts of the results in Basra suggest that Sadrist parties will take only one or two of the thirty-five seats in Iraq's second city, where 4,000 British troops are stationed awaiting their final withdrawal later this year.

British officials see the political setback as the latest sign of Mr Sadr's diminished importance in southern Iraq.

Less than two years ago, Mr Sadr and his followers appeared to be the most powerful group in Iraqi politics, threatening the prospects of the country's western-backed government.

But a high-stakes military operation in Basra last year launched by the Iraqi government with British military support dealt a severe blow to Mr Sadr's status and influence. He had backed militant groups attempting to control Basra which were effectively destroyed by government forces under the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki.

Mr Maliki's political allies are expected to make the biggest gains in Basra, something British officials say will facilitate the UK withdrawal from the country, which is set to begin in May.

Mr Maliki is expected to replace the current governor of Basra with one of his own allies, consolidating central government control over the oil rich south and long, British commanders hope, furthering the development of the Iraqi army as a reliable military force.

Mr Sadr meanwhile remains in Iran whose Shia Muslim leadership had backed his attempts to exert influence over Iraq.

Some British sources are even questioning whether Mr Sadr will return from Iran, speculating that his standing has been irrevocably undermined over the past year.

"Sadr gambled against Maliki and the result was that Sadr lost and Maliki won," one British source said.

Provisional election results expected to be released as early as Friday are expected to show that Mr Sadr; s allies polled fewer than 30,000 votes in Basra.

For the full article click here for the Telegraph website

Going downtown in Basra - DFID

Simon

DFID Representative, Iraq

I’ve been downtown twice in the last couple of weeks now, so I thought it might be interesting to set down some impressions of the city (as well as some photographs). Now that security has improved, we’re out and about in town on a regular basis. One of my trips included a long drive into and through town which gave me a particularly good opportunity to get a sense of the city and how things are doing.

Firstly, the atmospherics (as the military term them) are very positive. I’ve worked in other cities in conflict zones and there’s nothing like getting out on the ground for getting a sense of how you’re viewed. As we drove into town lots of I was positively impressed at the warm reception we received – lots of people waved or gave us the thumbs up and in many ways I found it reassuring that often people didn’t bat an eyelid at our presence either way.

Secondly, it’s very obviously been election time. The provincial elections took place on Saturday, and the city is covered in political posters - and since there were over 1200 candidates there’s a huge range of posters. Maybe this’ll seem simplistic but it looks to me like a town in which the population is engaged in the democratic process (and I’ll write about the elections more shortly). Together with the election posters there are a lot of banners and flags still up from the recent Shia religious festival of Ashura so the streets are nothing if not colourful.

Thirdly, though it’s down at heel and seen better days you can see that the downtown area - particularly the Corniche which runs alongside the Shatt Al Arab waterway, with its cafes and floating restaurants and the canals that spur from it - has real potential to be an attractive location. It’s often repeated to us that Basra used to be the ‘Venice of the east’ and while getting back to that is clearly some way off you can see how that may have been true and how it could be again.

Fourthly, there’s a strong and visible Iraqi Security Force presence – both police and army – on the streets. Checks points are set at regular intervals. Security has improved dramatically, and while the situation remains fragile it is incredibly encouraging that it is now the Iraqi Army that people rely on to provide security, not the UK or US.

Lastly, the city is vast, dirty and in places squalid – the journey into town takes over an hour, much of which runs past obviously poor communities where ramshackle houses stand next to pools of stagnant water and piles of rubbish. Much of this reflects decades of under-investment in the city – the city did particularly badly during the Saddam years (the city’s predominantly Shia and the Saddam punished it by starving it of funding following the Shia uprising in 1992 – it also suffered particularly severely during the Iran-Iraq war).

That said, I’m told by many of the people who’ve been here for a number of years that the city is currently in a better state than they’ve seen it before and that visible progress is being made. And while it’s clear that the city’s going to need years of sustained economic growth and investment in basic infrastructure to bring it to where it should be - given Iraq’s relative wealth – it’s also clear that the city’s moving in the right direction.

To see the blog on the DFID website click here

Big poll wins for Iraq PM's bloc - BBC

Preliminary results from Iraq's provincial elections show big wins for the bloc headed by the prime minister, Nouri Maliki.

His coalition won victories in Baghdad and Basra, and emerged as the largest group across the mainly Shia provinces of southern Iraq.

The other major city, Mosul, saw a strong result for a Sunni faction which boycotted the last elections.

Saturday's ballot was the first major poll held in the country since 2005.

The preliminary results, which are subject to appeal and review, confirmed what many anecdotal and unofficial accounts had already claimed, that the State of Law Coalition, headed by the prime minister, has come out very strongly in Shia and mixed areas.

Disappointed

It took 37% of the votes in Basra, 38% in Baghdad, and was ahead of the competition in most of the largely Shia south.

This happened at the expense of what was the biggest Shia faction, the Supreme Islamic Council in Iraq, regarded as close to Iran, and running under a different name.

Followers of the militant Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr will also be disappointed by their results.

Among the most closely watched returns were those for the mainly Sunni province of al-Anbar, to the west of Baghdad, where tribal leaders had threatened to take up arms if rival Sunni political parties came out on top.

The results showed one of the traditional parties just half a percentage point ahead of the main tribal coalition, with their chief adversaries coming in third.

It is perhaps a good enough result for the tribal factions to head off trouble, though a pre-emptive curfew has been declared there.

Further north in Mosul, as expected, a newly-formed Sunni faction came out well ahead of Kurdish groups, restoring political balance in an area where Sunnis are the majority.

The electoral commission says it is investigating many claims of election irregularities and the final results may be amended in the coming weeks if they are justified.

Click here for BBC Online

Iraq's provincial elections provide hope of real change - Montreal Gazette

The counting isn't over and it would be a mistake to draw premature conclusions from Iraq's Jan. 31 provincial elections. But the elections added, many observers say, to a sense that change is really coming to Iraq. And it's change, we can't help saying, that Iraqis can believe in.

This doesn't mean a change of government, necessarily. Most accounts suggest the current administration will be re-elected. But the post-Saddam era is ending, and Iraq is moving to something new. Just what that will be is not clear, but almost everyone will see this as progress.
Saturday's elections were the most peaceful vote since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion as well as being the first since Iraq and the U.S. agreed formally that U.S. soldiers will be gone by 2011.

Observers had predicted upheaval at the polls, but there was little. True, it was disappointing that barely half of eligible voters voted, but it was a positive development that Sunnis, who boycotted the 2005 elections, participated in strong numbers.

And the election demonstrated a marked disillusionment with religious parties. Voters signalled a sharp turn toward a secular agenda, evidently putting their support behind Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who had campaigned on a platform of public order under a strong central government.

A nationalist wind also seemed to be blowing, with former prime minister Iyad Allawi's party reportedly attracting votes from both Sunnis and Shias. Strong candidates who can appeal to a spectrum of voters are to be welcomed in a country so severely tested by sectarian violence.
Sunni Iraqis, having lost the predominance they enjoyed under Saddam Hussein, are widely understood to have supported the insurgency against the government.

For Sunnis to have turned out for this election suggests that sectarian fighting might have given way to political dispute, although nobody doubts that criminal and terrorist violence will continue on some scale.

A single election does not a democracy make. This voting was carefully structured to avoid inciting Kurdish nationalists. The Kurdish northern areas did not vote Saturday. They will take part in parliamentary elections to be held toward the end of the year. Voting was also put indefinitely on hold in Kirkuk. Serious challenges still confront the new Iraq.

But a new Iraq it is, and there is hope, at least, that the people of this tattered and troubled country can find a way to manage their affairs with ballots instead of bombs and bullets.

To see the article on the Montreal Gazette click here

UN Envoy: Iraqi Provincial Elections 'Historic'

The U.N. Special Representative in Iraq, Staffan de Mistura, said that of the nearly 15 million eligible voters, about 51 percent - almost 7.5 million people - went to the polls on Saturday.

Provisional results are expected in the next few days, but final results are not likely before the end of the month.

Speaking via video link from Baghdad on Tuesday, De Mistura called the election "historic" because it was the first to take place since Iraq regained its sovereignty.

"In other words, an Iraqi election led by the Iraqis, managed by the Iraqis, with the assistance of the U.N., but done by themselves," he said.

Voters went to the polls to select provincial councils in 14 of the country's 18 provinces.

Under the new election law passed by parliament last year, voters were able to choose not only the party they favored, but also specific candidates. The electoral commission certified more than 14,000 candidates, including some 4,000 women.

For the full article on VOANews.com click here

Election success pave way for the leaving of Basra - Independent

By Terri Judd

Basra's elections passed without major incident this weekend setting the tone for the British end game in Iraq.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's sweeping victory in the provincial elections, in which voters chose secular and nationalist parties over religious ones, was reflected in the country's second largest city, where initial reports suggest his list has claimed 50 per cent of the vote.

The relatively peaceful passing of the election set the right tone for the withdrawal of British forces, who are due to leave by the end of July.

UK soldiers, who have assisted in planning and mentoring the Iraqi security services, were on standby to assist with any outbreaks of violence but weren't needed.

This was the first election to be secured by the Iraqis themselves as well as the first to be run by the Iraqis, through the Iraqi International High Electoral Commission.

It has also been the first election where Basrawis voted on the performance of elected officials (the last provincial elections were in 2005) and the first time all the ethnic groups participated (the last time the Sunnis boycotted the elections).

Mr Maliki called the polls "a victory for all the Iraqis" while Prime Minister Gordon Brown Gordon Brown said: "That so many Iraqis once again braved the threat of intimidation to vote in provincial elections sends the clearest possible signal of their commitment to Iraq's sovereign, democratic future."

In Basra all leave was cancelled for the 28,000 Iraqi police and soldiers in the lead up to the voting and a hotline encouraged locals to tip the security services off to any militia activity.
British Military operations will end by 31 May and the remaining 4,100 service personnel will leave within two months. Several hundred trainers will remain, some working with the Iraqi navy.

Violence in the city has dropped dramatically since last March when Iraqi forces, backed by Americans and Brits broke the militias stronghold.

Click here for the Independent online

Iraqi forces taking lead in Basra - Stars & Stripes

Official: British won’t need U.S. replacements

By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes

U.S. troops will not have to replace British troops, who are expected to leave southern Iraq later this year, said British Maj. Gen. Andy Salmon on Monday.

Salmon’s comments come after the top U.S. commander in Iraq said last month that he was considering sending U.S. troops to Basra to replace the British.

Army Gen. Ray Odierno said in December that he might move a brigade or division headquarters to Basra followed by an undetermined number of combat troops, according to The Associated Press.

"We think it’s important to maintain some presence down here just because we think Basra is an important city, and we think it’s important to have some oversight here," he said.

Multi-National Force–Iraq was unable to say by deadline Monday whether Odierno had changed his mind.

"I know that the commander on the ground here will want to make sure he has some situational awareness, but it won’t be replacing U.K. troops man for man," Salmon told reporters.

British troops are expected to pull out of Iraq by July 31, Salmon said. Iraqi security forces in the region are already in the lead, with the help of some U.S. training teams.

"In terms of the Iraqi security force’s capabilities to manage internal security issues, I think that’s really good," he said, adding that both Iraqi troops and police still need work.

As security conditions have improved, the mission in Basra has changed to ensuring the rule of law, providing stability and helping local government to be effective, Salmon said.

Iraqi security forces are able to handle any "low-level violence" following Saturday’s provincial elections, and British troops are expected to complete their mission by May 31, he said.

"So essentially there is no relief in place," he said.

"This is a different mission that we’ve been building up; new security conditions; Iraqis are in charge; Brits finish their job off and they redeploy leaving no vacuums."

Read the article on Stars & Stripes

UK troops have met Iraq exit conditions - Reuters

British troops in Iraq have largely met the conditions required for their withdrawal and are on track to begin leaving the country by May 31, a top British commander said on Monday.

Major General Andy Salmon, commander of coalition forces in southeastern Iraq, said the holding of peaceful provincial elections on Saturday met the latest of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's goals for removing Britain's 4,000 troops from Iraq by the end of July.

"In the main, we've completely met the conditions," Salmon told Pentagon reporters in a video link from Basra.

"With that in mind, then, we will see British troops start to transition. They will finish the mission by the 31st of May and British troops will be out of Iraq by the 31st of July."

Two other goals set by Brown were the transfer of Basra's international airport to Iraqi control, which occurred earlier this month, and the rejuvenation of the region's economy.

Salmon said Saturday's elections showed that Iraqi forces are capable of tackling any political violence that might erupt as newly elected provincial council members select new regional governors by the end of March.

He also said the violence has fallen to levels not seen since the start of the war, which has encouraged investment interest.

Regional business leaders have received 17 firm offers of outside investment interest for projects worth $12.8 billion (9 billion pound). Potential investors include British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline and oil giant Shell, he said.

(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Vicki Allen)

Basra Polling Was 'Litmus Test' for Security Forces

Iraqi police and soldiers in Basra performed well during the Jan. 31 provincial elections, a senior British officer posted in Iraq said today.

Basra's citizens "were safe and secure" when they casted their ballots, British Royal Marine Maj. Gen. Andy Salmon, commander of Multinational Division Southeast, told Pentagon reporters during a satellite-carried news conference.

Salmon's command includes elements of the British and Australian militaries and it operates in the southernmost part of Iraq, including the city of Basra. The elections in Basra passed without major incident, said Salmon, who cited the "impeccable" performance of Iraqi soldiers and police.

Nearly 1.5 million people had registered to vote in Basra and its environs, Salmon said, adding that overall voter turnout in his area topped 50 percent. The elections took place in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces.

Basra's voting-day success "was really important for the Iraqi security forces" there, Salmon said. "It was a litmus-test for them, and the fact that they passed with very minor incidents was a testament to the way they've developed" over the past few months.

Salmon said he was impressed by the Iraqi security forces' demonstrated performance and professionalism. For example, an Iraqi policeman was promptly "sacked" or fired on the spot by his commander, Salmon said, after the officer inappropriately fired his rifle in the air to move along a queue of voters.

Iraqi security forces in Basra will continue to improve, Salmon said, noting he predicts more joint cooperation and partnership between Iraqi soldiers and police. "Now, it's really a question of making sure that police reform continues," Salmon said.

Efforts to enhance border and port security in southern Iraq also are being enhanced, he said. With the much-improved security, Salmon said, Basra's citizens now rate crime, jobs, and the delivery of essential services as higher concerns. Those issues, he said, are "the sort of thing that anybody would be worried about in any city in the world, frankly."

Meanwhile, Basra's people are "determined not to go back to the previous 30 years of darkness," Salmon said, referring to the past brutal, corrupt rule by deceased dictator Saddam Hussein.

"They've tasted freedom recently; they like it and want more of it," Salmon said of Basra's citizens. "They want decent politicians that can deliver; they want more transparency, they want corruption dealt with. "And these elections are really the start of all of that," Salmon said.

See the article on the Australian web site here

Voices of Basra

Basrawis talk about life in the southern Iraqi city in the wake of Operation Charge of the Knights, discussing the improved security situation and their hopes for the future. Video includes footage of day-to-day life in the hustle and bustle of a thriving Basra and gives some interesting facts and figures. In Arabic with subtitles. Produced by Perki Productions for the Ministry of Defence.

High turnout in Iraqi election - Telegraph

Allies of the US-backed Iraqi leader Nouri al-Maliki have been rewarded at the polls for improving security and tackling insurgents, according to early election forecasts.

Candidates supporting the current prime minister have made strong gains in the south of the country according to Iraqi media.

The southern port of Basra and the Shiite holy city of Najaf are among key areas believed to have posted gains for al-Maliki allies. Iraqi secular parties are also thought to have gained votes because of disillusionment with religious parties.

Overall turnout in Saturday's provincial elections was 51 per cent, less than expected and less than previous polls, but the election passed without major violence.

The low turnout was blamed on confusion over the vote registration. Many Iraqis complained they had turned up at polling stations only to find their names was not registered to vote.

Road closures and vehicle bans designed to prevent car bombings are also thought to have deterred voters.

But those who did cast their votes praised a government-led purge of Shia militias in Basra and southern regions last year.

"Al-Maliki ended the militiamen's reign of terror," said Faisal Hamadi, 58, after voting in Basra. "For this he deserves our vote."

Victory for al-Maliki's allies would come at the expense of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, the biggest Shiite party. It would also strengthen his position ahead of national elections later this year.

Sunni voters boycotted the 2005 provincial elections in fear of reprisals and in protest at the US invasion of their country.

However on Saturday Salaheddin, Saddam Hussein's home province, recorded the largest turnout at 65 per cent. Anbar, the former Sunni rebel stronghold which had a turnout of less than one per cent four years ago, recorded 40 per cent turnout the Iraqi election commission said.

Sunni leaders are also hoping to capitalise on their role in dramatically curbing insurgency violence.

Tribal leaders who formed Awakening Councils, abandoning the insurgency to fight al Qaeda, are now hoping for seats on provincial councils.

Voting took place in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces and official results are not expected for several days.

US President Barack Obama congratulated the people of Iraq on the smooth-running elections.

"This important step forward should continue the process of Iraqis taking responsibility for their future," he said in a statement.

More than 14,400 candidates stood for 440 seats in councils, which appoint the provincial governor and oversee finance and reconstruction, with a combined budget of $2.5 billion (£1.8 billion).

The elections took place under tight security with many streets closed to traffic to prevent car bombings.

Violence in Iraq has fallen to its lowest levels since the 2003 US-led election new figures have shown.

A total of 191 Iraqis were killed in violence last month (JAN), including 27 soldiers and 24 policemen. Just over 400 Iraqis were wounded.

"I consider the toll is due to the efforts of the Iraqi security forces, and the support of the Iraqi people, which helped to keep down the terror," said defence ministry spokesman Major General Mohammad al-Askari.

Gordon Brown praised Iraqis for "braving the threat of intimidation"

to take part in the elections.

"That so many Iraqis once again braved the threat of intimidation to vote in provincial elections sends the clearest possible signal of their commitment to Iraq's sovereign, democratic future," he said.

Click here for the Telegraph

Iraqis turn out in record numbers for crucial elections - The Observer

Iraqis voted in record numbers yesterday in pivotal elections hailed as a key test of the sectarian landscape and a battle for power between central government and the disaffected regions.

Voter turnout was beyond expectations across the 14 provinces that took part, according to election monitors, who also reported little violence or overt signs of interference in the ballot.

The poll lead-up had been dogged by warnings that militias linked to the main political blocs would use the elections to mount a resurgence. Attacks were lower, however, than at any time during the past fortnight, with only three mortars reported falling in Tikrit, the former hometown of Saddam Hussein.

The Sunni Muslim blocs turned out en masse after boycotting the last provincial poll in January 2005 and leading a militia-driven rebellion throughout much of the past four years. Up to 60% of eligible voters turned out in the Sunni heartland of Anbar province, compared with less than 2% last time.

At a polling station in the central Iraqi city of Karbala, Sheikh Haidar Mizher said the vote had exceeded his expectations. "The election process will help to stabilise security in Iraq and enforce the law and give us a free and dignified life," he said. "Before the invasion there was no sectarianism. All groups were living together. What happened was caused by hidden hands from outside the country. We believe that things will soon be back to the way they were before the invasion."

The head of coalition party Iraqi National List, Mithal al-Alusi, last night alleged that the Iranian consul-general in the southern Iraqi city of Basra had walked through several polling stations, in a bid to interfere in the ballot. "Our monitors in Basra and other monitors as well saw the Iranian consul walk through with a fully armed convoy," he said. "This is obviously an attempt at intimidation and proves old habits have not died."

In Baghdad and Falluja, candidates claimed they had been threatened with their lives if they failed to stand down.

The prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, whose State of Law coalition was banking on a solid showing in the face of a threatened rebellion from the regions over poor service delivery, said the poll was largely conducted fairly.

"Many people have seen Iraq as a dictatorship, but today that has changed," he said, casting his ballot in Baghdad. "Others are saying this is a sectarian government, but this isn't true. We can't be a dictatorship again and we won't be."

Seen throughout his leadership as a key ally of former US president George W Bush, Maliki had been widely criticised for failing to distribute spoils from an oil-led budget surplus of up to $22bn to the largely impoverished provinces.

Alaa Waheed, an engineer from Karbala, said: "We need new faces and new blood in politics. People have become more aware of elections, and this is a good experiment for democracy at a street level. Change is urgently needed because basic services are very poor. We need a new administration to change that."

The election was also seen as a clash between old-guard exiles, such as former prime minister Iyad Allawi, whose party, the Iraqi National Accord, ran candidates in most provinces, and a new breed of homegrown candidates who campaigned on nationalist and largely secular platforms. The incumbent exiles steadily lost favour as Iraq struggled with sectarian war and crippling instability.

Early results from the polls are expected within three days, but the final balance of power throughout the provinces will not be known for up to three weeks.

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British troops prepare Iraq withdrawal - BBC

ritish troops are training and mentoring the Iraqi army ahead of the final departure of the British Army on 31 July.

As the UK announces its withdrawal from Iraq,an overall judgement of its deployment should be a favourable one.

At last, election day in Basra - BBC

By Paul Adams

In the sixth instalment of his week-long diary, BBC diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams reports from Basra on the day of the provincial elections.

Election day and for the first time, we leave the old naval base without our British minders. The British military transition team are confined to base on this critical day, so we head out with our Iraqi army escorts.

It is amazing: they have been at our disposal for an entire week now, with barely a grumble.

The Iraqis say they have picked up intelligence of a threat, by a group affiliated to al-Qaeda, to kidnap a British journalist in Basra, so we take extra precautions.

No-one seems to give the warning much credence, but the British tell me to call in every half an hour until we are safely back.

Serious business

We set off in the company of a dozen heavily-armed Iraqi soldiers, through a section of the city they control.

The streets are free of traffic, so our jeeps race along faster than ever. People are walking everywhere, heading for the polls.

The scene at the Farahidi polling station is one of ordered, serious business. Voters look for their names and ration card numbers on lists plastered to the wall outside. A quick security check (the women are led to a blue tent to preserve their modesty) and they are free to go inside and vote.

The army is out in strength. Colonel Haidar el-Azzawi, whose men we have been shadowing all week, is on hand to oversee the security operation. A man who served in Saddam Hussein's army, he is emphatic that Iraqis need to make their own choices.

Overhead, two British Apache attack helicopters circle the city, a reminder that help is at hand, should the Iraqi army need it.

But no-one looks up. The British presence in their city has ceased to be a source of aggravation (there are only 200 British soldiers inside the city, with a handful of armoured vehicles) and they have other, more pressing things on their minds.

Electricity, drinkable water, accountable politics. The raw sewage lying in puddles in the middle of Iraq's second largest city.

The Brits are watching them, though. A successful round of elections means that British troops are one step closer to coming home, according to objectives set by Prime Minister Gordon Brown last summer.

We return to our barracks, to find the lads of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment watching football, playing chess, pulling weights and working out on the treadmills. Their time here is drawing to a close.