SADDAM HUSSEIN'S EXECUTION
The execution of Iraq's last strong leader, Saddam Hussein - himself a Sunni Muslim - also split the country over how appropriately it was carried out.

The divisions are stark when broken down along ethnic lines. Ninety seven per cent of Sunnis questioned thought the execution was carried out in an inappropriate manner compared with 17% of Shia.

Asked whether the execution was helpful in bringing about reconciliation in Iraq, 62% of Shia thought it would, while 96% of Sunnis thought it made reconciliation more difficult.



REGIONAL DIVIDE
Iraq was divided into four regions for the poll:

North: made up of the districts of Dahuk, Irbil, Nineveh, Sulaimaniya, Tamim;

Central: Anbar, Babil, Diyala, Salahuddin;

Baghdad

South: Basra, Karbala, Misan, Najaf, Muthanna, Qadisiya, Dhiqar, Wasit.

The results show that people in the northern and southern districts think things are good in their lives.

The majority of people in the central regions and Baghdad say life is quite bad or very bad.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/h...raqpollnew.pdf