Baghdad, 16 October 2002 (RFE/RL) -- Iraq says that Saddam Hussein has won another seven-year term as president in a referendum in which he took 100 percent of the vote. This tops Saddam's result in a 1995 referendum, when he won 99.96 percent of the vote.
Izzat Ibrahim, the vice chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, said all 11,445,638 eligible voters cast ballots.
Saddam, who has ruled Iraq for the past 23 years, was the only candidate in yesterday's referendum. There were no independent election observers.
The Iraqi authorities had urged voters to turn out in force to show massive support for Saddam in the face of U.S. threats of military action.
The U.S. and Britain have dismissed the poll, with the White House saying it was not serious and has no credibility.
Later today the UN Security Council will host an open debate on the Iraq crisis.
Izzat Ibrahim, the vice chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, said all 11,445,638 eligible voters cast ballots.
Saddam, who has ruled Iraq for the past 23 years, was the only candidate in yesterday's referendum. There were no independent election observers.
The Iraqi authorities had urged voters to turn out in force to show massive support for Saddam in the face of U.S. threats of military action.
The U.S. and Britain have dismissed the poll, with the White House saying it was not serious and has no credibility.
Later today the UN Security Council will host an open debate on the Iraq crisis.