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As the substantial
figure of Jalal Talabani emerged from behind a
curtain into the hall in the Kurdish town of Koi
Sanjaq - where Talabani grew up - he was almost
knocked backwards by the force of the welcome. More
than one thousand women from Erbil ululated and
clapped in rhythm, chanting, 'Ma-ma! Ma-ma!' (Uncle!
Uncle!) The grinning veteran Kurdish leader, known
as Mam Jalal (Uncle Jalal), gave a brief wave and
then set about the business of the day: encouraging
Kurdish women to vote.
One woman pushed through the crowd, brandishing the
Kurdish flag. 'Mam Jalal, we will die for
Kurdistan,' she screamed.
'No, don't die. Vote!' joked Talabani.
Campaigning in the Kurdistan region - the most
secure area of Iraq - got off to a late start, but
for the past few days has taken on the air of a
noisy, chaotic street party.
In Arbil in the west, the yellow flag of Massoud
Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)
predominates. In Sulaymaniya, to the east, it is the
green of Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
The red, white, green and gold of the Kurdish flag
is everywhere.
Barzani and Talabani run rival administrations in
the Kurdish self-rule area in the north but have put
aside past bitterness for a joint ticket - which
includes Arab, Turkoman and Christian candidates -
for both this election and the vote for the Kurdish
regional parliament in Erbil. The KDP and the PUK
will compete against each other only in the
provincial elections.
The Kurds form about 20 per cent of Iraq's
population and are expected to vote in large
numbers, although last night heavy snow began
falling in mountain regions, which could cut
turn-out.
Analysts say the Kurdish list could gain anything
from 50 to 80 seats in the 275-seat transitional
assembly and is likely to hold the balance of power.
The two leaders have struck a deal - Talabani will
lead the Kurds in Baghdad, while Barzani will be
president of the Kurdistan Region.
As a result of this new unity, the chances of Iraq
getting its first Kurdish president are high. Both
leaders demand either the prime minister or
president be a Kurd.
The prime minister's post will probably be taken by
the incumbent Iyad Allawi or a candidate from the
nominally united but clearly fractious Shia list.
Talabani is a favourite for president. 'We have
received some proposals from Shia politicians and
others,' Talabani said yesterday over lunch in the
Koi Palace hotel. 'Many are asking for the Kurds'
cooperation. In return for our backing the idea of
the prime minister being a Shia, they are saying
they will back a Kurd as president.'
One senior Western diplomat said: 'Talabani would
have the full backing of the Kurds who are eager to
use their king-making status to reshape Iraq into
the kind of country in which they feel they can
live.'
http://observer.guardian.co.uk
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