Key provincial elections split Sunni Arabs in Iraq
Plans for provincial elections in Iraq by the fall have already set Sunni Arabs against each other as factions prepare to compete for control of the local governments that will wield considerable power over security and finances.
The elections will choose governing councils in Iraq’s 18 provinces and are seen as a key step in repairing the country’s sectarian rifts, particularly by opening the door for greater Sunni Arab political representation.
Many Sunnis boycotted the last provincial balloting in January 2005, enabling Shiites and Kurds to win a disproportionate share of power _ even in areas with a substantial Sunni population.