Returns Show Shiites Lead in Iraq Election

[steven]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Preliminary election returns Monday showed Iraqi voters divided along ethnic and religious lines with a commanding lead held by the religious Shiite coalition that dominates the current government.

Meanwhile, an Iraqi lawyer said at least 24 top former officials in Saddam Hussein's regime were freed from jail without charges. They included biological and chemical weapons experts known as "Dr. Germ" and "Mrs. Anthrax."

Violent demonstrations also broke out across Iraq and the oil minister threatened to resign after the government raised the prices of gasoline and cooking fuel by up to nine times. And a militant group released a video of the purported killing of an American hostage.

Early vote tallies suggested disappointing results for a secular party led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a U.S. favorite who hoped to bridge the often violent divide that has emerged between followers of rival branches of Islam since the fall of Saddam.

As expected, religious groups, both Shiite and Sunni, were leading in many areas - an indication that Iraqis may have grown more religious or conservative.

Violent demonstrations also broke out across Iraq and the oil minister threatened to resign after the government raised the prices of gasoline and cooking fuel by up to nine times. And a militant group released a video of the purported killing of an American hostage.

The violent protests over gas prices came after the Cabinet raised the prices of gasoline, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas on Sunday to curb a growing black market.

The price of a liter of imported and super gasoline was raised to 17 cents, which is a fivefold increase from previous prices. There are about 3.8 liters in a gallon, meaning the new price is about 65 cents a gallon.

The price of locally produced gasoline was raised about sevenfold to about 12 cents per liter, or about 46 cents a gallon.


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAQ?SITE=NYBUE&SECTION=HOME


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46 cents for a gallon of gas???????????????

[tronix75]

Iraq isn't what you would call a free market.
The consumer price of gasoline in highly subsidized in Iraq, as it is in other Middle Eastern countries, so the average citizen is a bit spoiled.
It was subsidized under Saddam, and it's still subsidized under the U.S. (thanks to Mr. & Mrs. U.S. Sucker, I mean taxpayer) and the current Iraqi government.
Nearly half of the current Iraqi government budget goes to energy subsidies.

Iraq doesn't have the refinery capacity to supply the demand, so a lot of the gasoline is imported from neighboring countries.

Because the price of gasoline and other petroleum products is kept at an artificially low price, there is substantial waste, corruption and shortages. People wait in long gas lines to fill up.
Black marketers sell gas at higher prices to those who don't want to wait in lines.
There is even a lot of smuggling of gasoline back to neighboring countries.

[DR_GONZO]

They included biological and chemical weapons experts known as "Dr. Germ" and "Mrs. Anthrax."

Why hasn't any of the media jumped at the chance to interview 'Five of Hearts' Dr. Germ or Mrs. Anthrax? I'm sure they would have a lot to say.