After almost two years of American occupation, the Iraqis have taken the first steps toward representative democracy with last Sunday’s elections. But a stable government, constitution and societal structure are still distant dreams.

The nation saw an extremely high turnout in the face of continued terrorist threats, mostly in the Sunni triangle. Preliminary figures show as high as 70 percent participation among registered voters, although many are skeptical of those numbers.

At least 50 Iraqis died during the vote and were honored as martyrs.

The Iraqis embraced the election, viewing it as progress toward a free, unoccupied Iraq.

The majority Shi’ites and minority Kurds showed up in large numbers, but the election was not without controversy. The Sunnis, who make up about 20 percent of Iraq’s population but held power for 80 years before the occupation, largely boycotted the election, which has caused many in the Arab world to question electoral results.

“Whatever the reasons were for a significant Sunni absence … the outcome of Sunday’s vote is not 100 percent legitimate without them,” read an editorial in Beirut’s Daily Star published Monday.

The Sunnis live primarily in the Sunni triangle, formed by Baghdad, Ramadi and Tikrit.

Sadaam Hussein is a Sunni, and under his power, the group enjoyed first-class citizenship and economic power over fellow Iraqis. The vast majority of Saddam’s Baath party and the former Iraqi Army were Sunnis.

From the beginning of the war, the Sunnis have formed the bulk of the insurgent forces. While others were oppressed under Saddam, the Sunnis had educational, professional and economic advantages. When the occupation forces dissolved the Iraqi Army, thousands of Saddam’s supporters were left jobless, armed and angry.

Now, without Sunni support of the election or (most likely) the elected government, many are worried about the potential for civil war. Sunni leaders have indicated that although they did not wish to participate in an election sponsored by the Americans, they welcome an active role in the drafting of Iraq’s constitution.

Officials are still counting votes and as of press time, no results are in. However, the slate supported by the most revered Shi’ite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani is expected to dominate the newly elected government.

Sistani contributed in shaping the elections and constitution process.

Sistani, like other Shi’ite clerics and leaders, expects that the election will solidify and normalize Shi’ite rule for the first time in almost 80 years. Shi’ite clerics will most likely continue to influence policy from behind the scenes.

Now, the focus turns to the international military presence still in Iraq. While many Iraqis had hoped that elections would mean the end of occupations, Iraq’s interim president said the “chaos and vacuum of power” that is Iraq necessitates foreign presence.

“It’s only complete nonsense to ask troops to leave,” said President Ghazi al-Yawer on Tuesday.