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| Iraqis vote in landmark elections | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Iraqis are electing new provincial councils in the first nationwide vote in four years, with the Sunni minority expected to turn out in strength. | |
| Sunnis largely boycotted the last ballot, a general election which resulted in Shia and Kurdish parties taking control of parliament. | Sunnis largely boycotted the last ballot, a general election which resulted in Shia and Kurdish parties taking control of parliament. |
| Gunmen killed three candidates in recent days and security is tight. | Gunmen killed three candidates in recent days and security is tight. |
| The vote is seen as a test of Iraq's stability ahead of the next general election later this year. | The vote is seen as a test of Iraq's stability ahead of the next general election later this year. |
| Up to 15 million Iraqis are eligible to cast a vote. | Up to 15 million Iraqis are eligible to cast a vote. |
| All three of the candidates killed were Sunnis. They were attacked in Baghdad, Mosul and Diyala Province. | All three of the candidates killed were Sunnis. They were attacked in Baghdad, Mosul and Diyala Province. |
| We didn't vote and we saw the result - sectarian violence Khaled al-Azemi Sunni speaking about 2005 boycott | We didn't vote and we saw the result - sectarian violence Khaled al-Azemi Sunni speaking about 2005 boycott |
| While the recent level of violence around Iraq is significantly lower than in past years, Iraq's international borders have been shut, traffic bans are in place across Baghdad and major cities, and curfews have been introduced. | While the recent level of violence around Iraq is significantly lower than in past years, Iraq's international borders have been shut, traffic bans are in place across Baghdad and major cities, and curfews have been introduced. |
| Hundreds of women, including teachers and civic workers, have also been recruited to help search women voters after a rise in female suicide bombers last year, according to the Associated Press. | Hundreds of women, including teachers and civic workers, have also been recruited to help search women voters after a rise in female suicide bombers last year, according to the Associated Press. |
| Iraqi and US military commanders have in recent days warned that al-Qaeda poses a threat to the elections. | Iraqi and US military commanders have in recent days warned that al-Qaeda poses a threat to the elections. |
| Setting the stage | Setting the stage |
| The International Crisis Group, which studies conflicts around the world, has emphasised the importance of the poll. | The International Crisis Group, which studies conflicts around the world, has emphasised the importance of the poll. |
| PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS Vote could mark Iraq turning pointIraq voices: provincial electionsIraq: Key facts and figures | PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS Vote could mark Iraq turning pointIraq voices: provincial electionsIraq: Key facts and figures |
| In a report it said: "Whereas the January 2005 elections helped put Iraq on the path to all-out civil war, these polls could represent another, far more peaceful turning point." | In a report it said: "Whereas the January 2005 elections helped put Iraq on the path to all-out civil war, these polls could represent another, far more peaceful turning point." |
| Despite intimidation, many Sunni voters who boycotted the last provincial elections in 2005 say they will vote this time. | Despite intimidation, many Sunni voters who boycotted the last provincial elections in 2005 say they will vote this time. |
| Some, like Khaled al-Azemi, said the boycott last time had been a mistake. | Some, like Khaled al-Azemi, said the boycott last time had been a mistake. |
| "We lost a lot because we didn't vote and we saw the result - sectarian violence" he told the BBC. | "We lost a lot because we didn't vote and we saw the result - sectarian violence" he told the BBC. |
| "That's why we want to vote now to avoid the mistakes of the past." | "That's why we want to vote now to avoid the mistakes of the past." |
| The drawing of alienated Sunnis back into the political arena is one of the big changes these elections will crystallise, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Baghdad. | The drawing of alienated Sunnis back into the political arena is one of the big changes these elections will crystallise, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Baghdad. |
| On the Shia side, the results will also be closely watched amid signs that many voters intend to turn away from the big religious factions and towards nationalist or secular ones. | On the Shia side, the results will also be closely watched amid signs that many voters intend to turn away from the big religious factions and towards nationalist or secular ones. |
| If they pass off relatively peacefully, these elections will set the stage for general polls at the end of the year and for further coalition troop withdrawals, our correspondent says. | If they pass off relatively peacefully, these elections will set the stage for general polls at the end of the year and for further coalition troop withdrawals, our correspondent says. |
| International observers | International observers |
| The election is also being seen as a quasi-referendum on the leadership of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. | The election is also being seen as a quasi-referendum on the leadership of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. |
| Saturday's elections are being held in 14 of the country's 18 provinces, with more than 14,000 candidates competing for just 440 seats. | Saturday's elections are being held in 14 of the country's 18 provinces, with more than 14,000 candidates competing for just 440 seats. |
| They are being organised by the United Nations and Iraq's Independent High Election Commission, with 800 international observers expected to oversee the balloting. | They are being organised by the United Nations and Iraq's Independent High Election Commission, with 800 international observers expected to oversee the balloting. |
| Iraq's provincial councils are responsible for nominating the governors who lead the administration and oversee finance and reconstruction projects. | Iraq's provincial councils are responsible for nominating the governors who lead the administration and oversee finance and reconstruction projects. |
| Security forces remain under federal government control. | Security forces remain under federal government control. |
| . | . |