Zaineb Naji
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As post-election talks loom, negotiators keep their counsel on likely alliances.
Most dismiss concerns case would affect press freedom – but are divided over whether jail sentence was fair.
Improvement in security means communities torn apart by violence and fear beginning to heal.
Secularists’ promises of security, services and unity resonate with voters tired of overtly faith-based parties.
They are at mercy of male relatives and complicated voting system.
They hope new quota system will give them a foot in the door of provincial politics.
They believe US president-elect unlikely to pursue campaign pledges on troop pullout and aid.
In run-up to local elections, residents say they are disillusioned with politics despite improvements in security.
Few of the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis forced to flee their homes have registered to vote in upcoming ballot.
Kurds, Turkomans and Arabs criticise recommendations on how to resolve territorial disputes in north.