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Quil Lawrence Quil Lawrence is a New York-based correspondent for NPR News, covering veterans' issues nationwide.
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Iraqi Vote Results In Doubt After Disqualifications

The announcement this week that six winning candidates in Iraq's March 7 parliamentary election have ties to the former regime of Saddam Hussein and must be disqualified jeopardizes the slim margin of victory for Iraq's former prime minister, Ayad Allawi (shown here in February). Sabah Arar/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Sabah Arar/AFP/Getty Images

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Iraqi Vote Results In Doubt After Disqualifications

A controversial committee has announced that six winning candidates in Iraq's March 7 election are connected to the former regime of Saddam Hussein and must be disqualified. Critics say it's no coincidence that disqualifying them will erase the lead of secular Ayad Allawi and his alliance of Sunnis and Shiites.

Iraqi Vote Results In Doubt After Disqualifications

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Poll Results In Kirkuk May Spur Census

The oil-rich and ethnically divided city of Kirkuk is perhaps the biggest prize in the post-election negotiations in Iraq and it has already delivered a surprise. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki seems to have lost the Arab vote to his most prominent challenger, Iyad Allawi. The elections are being seen by some as a referendum on the city's future.

Poll Results In Kirkuk May Spur Census

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Victors In Iraqi Elections Include Suspected Murderers

For all the talk of unity and reconciliation, many Iraqi citizens are in for a shock when the new parliament swears in. Several of the winners, including top vote-getters, are believed to have committed mass murder during Iraq's sectarian civil war. One of the names bandied about as a compromise candidate for prime minister allegedly managed a secret prison where Sunnis died by electric drill. Another is a famous death squad leader. With the results finally crystallizing, it's not at all clear that this election will heal any of Iraq's wounds.

Victors In Iraqi Elections Include Suspected Murderers

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Iraqi Election Results Drag, Could Slow U.S. Plans

It's been almost two weeks since millions of Iraqis went to the polls to elect a new parliament. There are still no confirmed results — other than it's a tight race. Once the results are in, formation of a new government also is expected to take a long time. And that could complicate the U.S. plan to withdraw 45,000 troops by August.

Iraqi Election Results Drag, Could Slow U.S. Plans

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In Iraq's Restive Anbar, Many Sunnis Now Resigned

An Iraqi man casts his vote at a polling station in Fallujah in Anbar province on March 7. Azhar Shallal/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Azhar Shallal/AFP/Getty Images

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In Iraq's Restive Anbar, Many Sunnis Now Resigned

In Iraq, the minority Sunnis have boycotted previous elections — many of them under threat from insurgents. But now that Sunnis have cast their votes in this month's parliamentary elections, how will they react if their side loses? Many in Fallujah seem resigned to accept what they get.

In Iraq's Restive Anbar, Many Sunnis Now Resigned

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Astrologist Fills In Iraq's Election Results Void

Only about 30 percent of votes are counted from last week's parliamentary elections in Iraq. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki holds a strong lead from declared results in Baghdad. But there are no results yet from the next two biggest cities: Mosul and Basra. One popular TV astrologist says he has done complete astrological charts for several candidates.

Astrologist Fills In Iraq's Election Results Void

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Early Election Results Show Iraqi PM's Bloc Ahead

The preliminary results Thursday in Iraq's elections showed Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's bloc doing well, but not well enough to form a government without outside support. But Maliki's closest opponents, from the secular bloc of former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, have already started claiming fraud.

Early Election Results Show Iraqi PM's Bloc Ahead

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Voting Finished, Iraqis Wait For New Government

Iraqis are taking down campaign posters that blanketed the streets and highways until Sunday's nationwide election. Iraqis now settle in for the long haul of political horse trading as unofficial results trickle in. The process from voting to forming a new government does not promise to be as tidy.

Voting Finished, Iraqis Wait For New Government

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Iraqis Wait For Official Election Results

Iraq has held its parliamentary elections, amid threats and violence aimed at keeping voters from the polls. Sunnis and Shiites alike went to the polls Sunday in defiance of insurgents who lobbed hand grenades at voters and bombed a polling station. Thirty-six were killed. Preliminary results are trickling in.

Iraqis Wait For Official Election Results

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Iraq's Female Candidates, Activists Or Quota Fillers?

In Iraq, voters go to the polls on Sunday to cast ballots in a general election. By law, 25 percent of Iraq's parliament has to be female, and every major party has prominent women featured on the billboards that are blanketing the country. Many of these are long-time activist for women's rights, others are a more obvious attempt by the parties to make up the quota.

Iraq's Female Candidates, Activists Or Quota Fillers?

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Anti-Incumbent Sentiment Grows Ahead Of Iraq Vote

It seems a bit early for anti-incumbent fever as Iraq's democratic tradition is only a few years old. But the one lesson drawn from provincial elections last year was that Iraqis like to vote out sitting officials, including possibly the prime minister.

Anti-Incumbent Sentiment Grows Ahead Of Iraq Vote

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Iraqi Candidates Plan Alliances Before Elections

Iraq is blanketed with campaign posters as it prepares for Sunday's elections. Most of the campaign slogans clamor for change. But many of the faces on the posters haven't changed from the elections four years ago, although the alliances have shifted. Major electoral slates already are haggling over how to form a ruling alliance.

Iraqi Candidates Plan Alliances Before Elections

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Ethnic Rivalries Heat Up Iraqi Election Campaigns

Some aspects of campaigning for parliament in Iraq are familiar like billboards and television ads. Others stunts are a bit more daring, and in fact some of them have the potential to spiral into violence. Iraq's prime minister announced he would reinstate thousands of officers from Saddam Hussein's amy — while one of his rivals said he'd further purge the army of Hussein's supporters.

Ethnic Rivalries Heat Up Iraqi Election Campaigns

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Religion Plays A Lesser Role In Iraq's Election Season

An Iraqi policeman walks past campaign posters of Ibrahim al-Jaafari, right, of the Shiite Iraqi National Alliance, and Iraqi Human Rights Minister Wijdan Salim, left, of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law Coalition, at night in Baghdad, Iraq, March 1, 2010. Iraqis head to the polls on March 7 for an important national election. Hadi Mizban/AP hide caption

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Hadi Mizban/AP

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Religion Plays A Lesser Role In Iraq's Election Season

Iraqis will vote Sunday in what many say is the country's most important election since the U.S.-led invasion seven years ago. In nationwide polls four years ago, voters elected a large number of Islamists to parliament. But now, religion seems to be playing a much less prominent role.

Religion Plays A Lesser Role In Iraq's Election Season

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Iraq's Truckers In It For The Long, Dangerous Haul

Trucks carrying goods from Iran to Iraq queue for inspection about 90 miles from the southeastern Iraqi city of Amara. These days, Iraqi truckers face more delays than mortal danger while working, but life remains a challenge. Essam al-Sudani/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Iraq's Truckers In It For The Long, Dangerous Haul

Truckers in Iraq are intimately familiar with the struggle to balance security with freedom of movement in a country plagued by bombings and attacks. A ride along with a driver illustrates how difficult the life is, and how it's still the best way for these Iraqis to make a living.

Iraq's Truckers In It For The Long, Dangerous Haul

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