Dear Friends,
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Greetings from Baghdad.
Well today is the big day; election results will be announced. The whole country is waiting for the announcement and security is immense. The sky is filled with helicopters, the ground with soldiers and police. The church is surrounded with more military than usual and more barricades were put into place last night.
Church Security
The Church area has become increasingly like the Green Zone in passed weeks since the major bombing. We are surrounded on every side. Yesterday, three of the Lt Colonels came to see me. They had two major security concerns, the first being today. It was clear that they did not want me to leave base today, I assured them I would not. The next issue is that of Easter Day, when our security is going to be seriously increased.
Al-Malaki or Allawi to win?
The political race has been very complex. The fact that Prime Minister Al Maliki and former Prime Minister Allawi have been neck and neck is particularly difficult.
There have been accusations of abuse on both sides but in the last few days there have been serious concerns about the actions of Prime Minister Al Malaki. Since returning to Iraq I have had serious conversations with some key leaders.
Last week I said to you that I wanted Al Malaki to win because I wanted minister Wijdan Michael Salem to survive. Today I am afraid I cannot say the same thing. I think Mr Allawi may indeed be far better for the country. Despite this, I am still wanting Minister Wijdan to remain in office; this may just be possible, she was originally elected as part of the Iyad Allawi's Iraqi National List and we still believe in miracles.
So your prayers are needed for us over the next few days, that peace will be seen. Once the result is announced, the big job begins at trying to form a coalition. None of the two main parties will have enough seats in parliament to form a government. Al Maliki will try and get the support of Muqtada Al Sadr's radical Shia party (known as the Mahdi army) that has been involved in much violence. He has won a lot of seats and to a certain extent he could indeed be the king maker. The problem is though that he is now seriously against Al Maliki and does not want him to be Prime Minister.
Allawi is likely to get the support of the Kurds who in the past were seen as the king makers but have lost several seats in this election. There are also many smaller parties. So all is complex and today is just the beginning of the complex formation of the next Iraqi Government.
Palm Sunday
Meanwhile back at the church all is going well and we are preparing for Palm Sunday which is one of our most joyful services of the year. We are also hoping to link up with the church of the Rev'd David Armstrong. He was the priest who trained me in Cambridge and first taught me about reconciliation and even preached at the wedding of Caroline and I.
Baghdad Now
As I write it is just before 13.00 here in Baghdad. Much is happening; all around is great noise. The helicopters are still overhead. Thousands from Al Malaki's party are marching in the road outside and making great noise. The Immams are shouting from the mosques, as it just happens to also be the main day of Islamic worship.
In the church we have been doing our mid - day prayers and stations of the cross. As on every Friday there were many people in the church; the chanting in Arabic was beautiful and the worship magnificent as we focused on the cross. There was such peace amongst the clamour and uproar outside.
My mind was drawn again to the first service after the war. I took the words from the book of Haggai. Words written in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral where I was then placed.
"The latter glory shall be greater than the former, and in this place I shall give Peace" (2:9)
Amongst the clatter and turmoil of this place here at St George's there is immense peace. May the Peace of the Lord be always with you.
With every blessing,
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