http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,276....html?gusrc=rss

 

Michael Howard in Baghdad

Wednesday April 6, 2005

The Guardian

 

Iraq will get its first democratically elected president today if the Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani is approved by the national assembly. The selection of Mr Talabani along with two vice-presidents, Adel Abdul Mahdi, a Shia who was finance minister in the outgoing government, and Sunni Arab tribal leader Ghazi Yawar, will be seen as an important step towards forming a government.

 

The interim vice-president, Rowsch Nouri Shaways, said ousted dictator Saddam Hus sein would be able to see the parliamentary session from his jail cell. "This is a very important session because this is the first time in Iraq's history that the president and his deputies are elected in a legitimate and democratic way by the Iraqi people," he told AP. "That's why the Iraqi government thought it would be beneficial that the former dictator to see this unique process."

And let them remember the first rule of democracy. Elections do not guarantee you will not get ass clowns for leaders.

Jeez, might as well just paint a bullseye on the guy's back?

I'm glad they finally got this done. Now on to the really fun part, and the constitution.