Sunni List Wins Vote In Volatile Iraqi Province

BAGHDAD (AP) – An Iraqi electoral official says a voting list backed by influential Sunni politicians has won the biggest single bloc of seats in provincial elections in the Sunni-dominated province of Anbar.

Safaa al-Moussawi, a spokesman for the Independent High Electoral commission, said Thursday that the United list led by Iraqi Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi won 8 of 30 seats in Anbar’s provincial council.

A bloc backed by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki came in second with five seats.

The western province of Anbar, a former al-Qaida stronghold, has been the center of anti-government rallies protesting what Sunnis say is their second-class treatment by the Shiite-led government.

Residents in Anbar and neighboring Ninevah province voted last week in local elections that had been delayed due to security concerns.