Iraq Gets Ready for Another Election

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Iraqis are getting a taste of American-style campaigning, with TV spots, wall posters and local political machines. Hospital patients, soldiers, prisoners and ex-patriots are already voting, but most Iraqis will go to the polls on Thursday. Despite threats of violence, the turnout is expected to be higher than ever with Sunnis participating this time and a lot at stake. Fourteen million voters will be able to choose among 7,000 candidates from 226 political groups that are competing for 275 seats in the Council of Representatives that will govern for the next four years. We get a progress report on establishing democracy in the Middle East, hear from participating Iraqis, look at the system they're voting for and at the potential for sectarian hostilities that could lead to civil war.
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6th WTO Ministerial Conference, Hong Kong

BusinessWeek article on unlikely progress at WTO conference

Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq

Governor Schwarzenegger's refusal to grant clemency to Stanley 'Tookie' Williams

California Supreme Court denies Williams' request for stay of execution

Lopez's article on witnessing Williams' execution

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Warren Olney