Security - key issue to be faced by new government

With the Iraqi elections being broadly hailed as a success by interim and religious leaders in the country, analysts say the focus must now be on how the new government will tackle its biggest challenge, internal security. In order to have a stable country, security issues need to be addressed. To do this, a strong economy is needed and a new constitution should be written as soon as possible, according to experts. "When you have an official constitution you will have autonomy to act over the insurgents and those who want to break down democracy in the country," Munir Kamel, an expert in political science told IRIN. Shi'ite leaders say that preparation for the constitution requires full participation from Sunni leaders, particularly after the election boycott by many Sunni parties. The country's new leaders will need to be careful in the division of power between the majority Shi'ite and the Sunni Muslims who were in control during Saddam Hussein's regime as well as accommodating Kurds and Christians, giving them back their rights, Kamel said. Interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, at a press conference on Tuesday, urged religious groups and different ethnic groups in the country to unite following the first democratic election in nearly half a century. More than eight million Iraqis both inside the country and abroad were estimated to have voted in the 31 January poll to elect a 275-member national assembly. "We want to live in peace. The new government should soon take control of the security in the country, after that everything will be easier," Nahila Ibraheem, a resident in the Allawi district of the capital, told IRIN. Sabah Kadham, deputy minister of the interior, told IRIN that security training was being increased in the event that US troops would eventually leave the country and at least they would have a strong security force. "Security is not the only issue. Reconstruction of Fallujah is also an important step to be taken care of by the new government," Kadham added. The city of Fallujah, some 60 km from Baghdad, was the scene of fierce battles between US forces and insurgents. Two-thirds of the 300,000 population were said to have fled the city and many are still displaced as some 70 percent of homes were destroyed in the fighting. Fassal al-Gaud, Governor of neighbouring Anbar province, told IRIN that Fallujah should be rebuilt fast to prevent insurgents from entering the area again and so that families can start to return with safety and enjoy, at least, basic living conditions. "If you give good things to them now, they will support the new government. Those families don't want too much, but home and security are essential needs," al-Gaud added. A senior officer from the Coalition force told IRIN that the level of training to ensure security in the country would be increased and modern and essential equipment would be distributed to the Iraqi army and policemen. But he added that it is still too early for US forces to leave the country, because insurgents are still present in the Sunni Triangle, Baqubah and the northern city of Mosul. The counting of votes is underway with preliminary results available in a few days time and a final tally expected late next week. The elected candidates will have the power to choose the new president who will choose a prime minister and together they will draw up a fresh constitution for Iraq. "They may want to delay democracy in Iraq but we won't give them this chance," the senior Coalition officer added. Meanwhile, for the average Iraqi, the situation is tiresome and they have had enough of promises which are not met. "Despite the lack of water or power, we need security first, for our families. Insurgents are just delaying the future of Iraq. We have had enough. It's time for us to unite our forces for a new century of democracy in our country," Muhammad Alladin, a father of three in the Dahilya district of Baghdad, told IRIN.