Iraq's leading Sunni Muslim clerics said Wednesday this week's elections lacked legitimacy because large numbers of Sunnis did not participate in the balloting, which the clerics had asked them to boycott.
In its first statement since the balloting, the Association of Muslim Scholars said the vote lacked legitimacy because of low Sunni participation. According to The AP, the association months ago called on Sunnis to boycott the polls because of the presence of U.S. and other foreign forces.
In fact, Iraqi officials have acknowledged voting problems, including a ballot shortage in Baghdad, Basra and Mosul, which also may have contributed to a low turnout among Sunnis.
In its statement, the association said the election "lacks legitimacy because a large portion of these people who represent many spectra have boycotted it." As a result, the group said the new leadership lacked a mandate to draft a new constitution and should be considered a temporary administration.
"We make it clear to the United Nations and the international community that they should not get involved in granting this election legitimacy because such a move will open the gates of evil," the statement said.
"We are going to respect the choice of those who voted and we will consider the new government - if all the parties participating in the political process agree on it — as a transitional government with limited powers."
Meanwhile, four civilians were killed Wednesday in a drive-by shooting in Iskandariyah south of Baghdad, police said. The motive was unclear.
An Iraqi motorist was shot dead on the main desert highway west of Baghdad on Wednesday. A witness claimed U.S. troops opened fire when the vehicle tried to overtake an American military convoy.
