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The article discusses reactions of Iraq's Arab neighbours to its elections. In undemocratic Syria and Egypt, the dominant, government-owned press played down Iraq's poll. But some in the region have always seen things differently. Minority groups such as secular liberals, Kurds, Algeria's Berbers, and Shias, tend to sympathise with the historic victims of Arab nationalism, such as the non-Sunni Arab majority of Iraqis who turned out to vote. In recent months, the more thoughtful of Arab press commentators have increasingly embraced the idea of elections. One theme that has continued to resonate, in some quarters, is the supposed danger of empowering Iraq's Kurds and Shias. Turkey, Syria and Iran, worried about their own restive Kurds. Shia leaders in the Gulf are keenly aware of the suspicion with which many regard them, and argue that they do not want to see an Iranian-style Islamist state emerge in Iraq or elsewhere. Yet the rise of Shia power in Iraq may start to encourage demands for greater enfranchisement. This underlines a deeper fear in Arab ruling circles, which is that people power may prove infectious.

The author analyses the outcome of the Turkish Cypriot parliamentary elections. On December some 120,000 Turkish Cypriots voted in parliamentary elections which, it had been hoped, would push forward plans to unite the divided Mediterranean island and allow the Turkish and Greek parts to join the European Union together next May.The vote was also expected to affect Turkey's own chances of one day joining the EU. In the event, a block of opposition parties favouring the UN plan for a loose federation of largely autonomous Greek and Turkish states tied with the two ruling nationalist groups that oppose it. The result: a hung parliament, with both sides getting an equal number of seats in the 50-strong chamber. They must agree to form some kind of coalition within the next two months, or face fresh elections. A firm opposition victory would have strengthened the hand of Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's reformist prime minister, who, at least tacitly, backs the UN plan. But he still faces fierce resistance from hardline generals, for whom the Turkish north of Cyprus (where they station some 35,000 troops) remains a strategic foothold in the Mediterranean. Time is running short. EU leaders have made clear that the Greek Cypriots will be admitted, together with nine other new members, next May even without a peace deal, leaving both the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey out in the cold. Turkey would then become, in effect, an occupation force in part of a member state.

Comments on results of June 9, 1999 elections in Turkey. Coalition government of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit; Outlook for an end to political instability caused by governmental weakness; Questions about the political pasts of Ecevit associates; Concern of Turkish secularists about Action Party (MHP) nationalism and Islamic bent; Outlook for democratic reforms and social change.