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| | Millions of citizens of Iraq, from tribal sheiks to entire families including children, turned out on Thursday to choose a parliament for their country in what proved to be a mostly peaceful election. The election was deemed to be the freest ever in the Arab world. Such a great number of Sunni Arabs voted that ballots ran out in some places. The strong participation of the Sunnis, the leaders of the insurgency in Iraq, boosted the hopes of the U.S. that the election will produce a broad based government capable of bringing an end to the violence in Iraq. There were few incidents that did anything to discourage Iraqies to vote. Some people even turned out wrapped in the country's flag on what proved to be a bright and sunny day. After voting, many people proudly displayed a purple, ink stained index finger -- a mark designed to guard against multiple voting -- with pride. One celebrating Shiite voter in Baghdad displayed all ten of his fingers stained with purple ink. |
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