The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
443.
The FCO
reported that the number of registered candidates was impressive,
and
one third
were women; technical preparations were on track, including for out
of country
voting and
results would likely be known by 10 February and certified 10 days
later.
The level
of Sunni participation remained “the key variable” with turnout
predictions
between
five and 40 percent, although the FCO considered that a key message
for the
period was
“we should not judge the success of elections by the Sunni
turnout”.
444.
On 27 January,
Mr Hoon told Parliament:
“Dutch
forces have made good progress in Muthanna, both in ensuring the
stability
of the
province and building the capability of the Iraqi Security Forces
(ISF). This
means a
significantly smaller force package is now able to perform these
tasks and
the General
Officer Commanding (GOC) MND (SE) has concluded that a force
of
some 600
personnel will be adequate to support and mentor Iraqi Security
Forces
in
providing general security in Muthanna, as well as providing
protection for the
Japanese
reconstruction battalion located there.
“The
majority of the personnel required will come from UK units already
deployed
445.
Mr Hoon
explained that an additional 220 UK troops would be deployed
temporarily
to assist
with logistics and other essential support functions. That number
would reduce
by 70 once
the initial deployment had been completed.
446.
Elections for
the TNA and Provincial Assemblies took place across Iraq
on
447.
The
5,232238
polling
stations across the country were secured by
approximately
130,000
Iraqi Security Forces personnel, supported by 184,500 MNF-I
troops.239
448.
Mr Quarrey
reported to Mr Blair that “crucially, the ISF reported for duty in
large
449.
Maj Gen Riley
described election day in southern Iraq as “extraordinary” with
an
almost
festive atmosphere.241
He observed
that:
“We should
not forget that this was an Iraqi election and in the end, it was
Iraqis
who
organised it and whose forces secured it. The ISF needed our help
but their
momentum
gathered. They had the courage to stand up and be counted. This is
the
heaviest
blow that Iraqis could deliver to everything that the insurgency
represents.”
236
House of
Commons, Official
Report, 27
January 2005, column 24WS.
237
Public
hearing Chaplin, 7 December 2009, page 12.
238
Minute
Quarrey to Prime Minister, 31 January 2005, ‘Iraq
Elections’.
239
Wright DP
& Reese TR. On Point
II: Transition to the New Campaign – The United States
Army
in Operation
IRAQI FREEDOM May 2003 – January 2005. Combined
Studies Institute Press. 2011.
240
Minute
Quarrey to Blair, 31 January 2005, ‘Iraq Elections’.
241
Report
Riley, 2 February 2005, ‘CG MND(SE) – Southern Iraq Update – 2
February 2005’.
466