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| Iraqi PM hails vote as 'victory' | Iraqi PM hails vote as 'victory' |
| (4 days later) | |
| Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has hailed a largely peaceful vote for new provincial councils across the country as a victory for all Iraqis. | Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has hailed a largely peaceful vote for new provincial councils across the country as a victory for all Iraqis. |
| Voting was extended by one hour due to a strong turnout, including among Sunni Muslims who boycotted the last polls. | Voting was extended by one hour due to a strong turnout, including among Sunni Muslims who boycotted the last polls. |
| The first nationwide vote in four years is seen as a test of stability before a general election due later this year. | The first nationwide vote in four years is seen as a test of stability before a general election due later this year. |
| US President Barack Obama hailed the poll as an "important step forward" for Iraqi self-determination. | US President Barack Obama hailed the poll as an "important step forward" for Iraqi self-determination. |
| "I congratulate the people of Iraq on holding significant provincial elections today," he said in a statement. | "I congratulate the people of Iraq on holding significant provincial elections today," he said in a statement. |
| Quasi-referendum | Quasi-referendum |
| Thousands of soldiers and police were deployed around polling stations. | Thousands of soldiers and police were deployed around polling stations. |
| The election is also being seen as a quasi-referendum on the leadership of Mr Maliki. | The election is also being seen as a quasi-referendum on the leadership of Mr Maliki. |
| "This is a victory for all the Iraqis," he said, after casting his vote in Baghdad's highly-protected Green Zone. | "This is a victory for all the Iraqis," he said, after casting his vote in Baghdad's highly-protected Green Zone. |
| He said a high turnout would be an indicator of "the Iraqi people's trust in their government and in the elections" and "proof that the Iraqi people are now living in real security". | He said a high turnout would be an indicator of "the Iraqi people's trust in their government and in the elections" and "proof that the Iraqi people are now living in real security". |
| This time we won't let those people who have let us down in the past reach power again Lubna Naji Medical student In pictures: Iraq's landmark poll | This time we won't let those people who have let us down in the past reach power again Lubna Naji Medical student In pictures: Iraq's landmark poll |
| A peaceful vote could also set the stage for further coalition troop withdrawals, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad. | A peaceful vote could also set the stage for further coalition troop withdrawals, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad. |
| Up to 15 million Iraqis are eligible to cast votes. | Up to 15 million Iraqis are eligible to cast votes. |
| The elections are being held in 14 of the country's 18 provinces, with more than 14,000 candidates competing for just 440 seats. | The elections are being held in 14 of the country's 18 provinces, with more than 14,000 candidates competing for just 440 seats. |
| There is no voting in the three provinces of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of the north and the ballot has been postponed in oil-rich Kirkuk province. | There is no voting in the three provinces of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of the north and the ballot has been postponed in oil-rich Kirkuk province. |
| 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 tight | Security tight |
| While the recent level of violence around Iraq is significantly lower than in past years, a major security operation took place across the country. | While the recent level of violence around Iraq is significantly lower than in past years, a major security operation took place across the country. |
| Iraq's international borders were shut, traffic bans were put in place across Baghdad and major cities, and curfews introduced. | Iraq's international borders were shut, traffic bans were put in place across Baghdad and major cities, and curfews introduced. |
| Hundreds of women, including teachers and civic workers, were also 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, were also recruited to help search women voters after a rise in female suicide bombers last year, according to the Associated Press. |
| Voters had to pass through stringent security checks to reach the polling stations, which were mostly set up in schools, our correspondent says. | Voters had to pass through stringent security checks to reach the polling stations, which were mostly set up in schools, our correspondent says. |
| IRAQI ELECTIONS 2003: US appoints Governing Council2004: Governing Council elects interim governmentAug 2004: National conference elects interim national assemblyJan 2005: First general elections for transitional national assembly and provincial councils - Sunnis boycott voteDec 2005: General elections for first full-term government and parliamentJan 2009: Elections for provincial councils - key test of security gainsLate 2009: General elections due Vote could mark Iraq turning pointIraq voices: provincial electionsIraq: Key facts and figures | IRAQI ELECTIONS 2003: US appoints Governing Council2004: Governing Council elects interim governmentAug 2004: National conference elects interim national assemblyJan 2005: First general elections for transitional national assembly and provincial councils - Sunnis boycott voteDec 2005: General elections for first full-term government and parliamentJan 2009: Elections for provincial councils - key test of security gainsLate 2009: General elections due Vote could mark Iraq turning pointIraq voices: provincial electionsIraq: Key facts and figures |
| Despite warnings from Iraqi and US military commanders that al-Qaeda posed a threat to the elections, there were relatively few incidents reported. | Despite warnings from Iraqi and US military commanders that al-Qaeda posed a threat to the elections, there were relatively few incidents reported. |
| As voting got under way, several mortar rounds landed near polling stations in Tikrit, hometown of late ruler Saddam Hussein, but no casualties were reported. | As voting got under way, several mortar rounds landed near polling stations in Tikrit, hometown of late ruler Saddam Hussein, but no casualties were reported. |
| Associated Press news agency reported a shooting incident at a polling station in Baghdad, but it was unclear if one man had been killed or two injured. | Associated Press news agency reported a shooting incident at a polling station in Baghdad, but it was unclear if one man had been killed or two injured. |
| There were also reports that a number of people were not listed on voter rolls, preventing them from casting ballots. | There were also reports that a number of people were not listed on voter rolls, preventing them from casting ballots. |
| Hundreds of international observers are monitoring the vote, as well as thousands of local observers from the various political parties. | Hundreds of international observers are monitoring the vote, as well as thousands of local observers from the various political parties. |
| After a slow start to voting, the pace picked up and there was a holiday atmosphere among voters walking to the polling stations, our correspondent says. | After a slow start to voting, the pace picked up and there was a holiday atmosphere among voters walking to the polling stations, our correspondent says. |
| "People here are so excited by the feeling that their vote can make a difference," Lubna Naji, a Baghdad medical student, told the BBC News website. | "People here are so excited by the feeling that their vote can make a difference," Lubna Naji, a Baghdad medical student, told the BBC News website. |
| She added that people knew better who to vote for than in 2005: "This time we know who cares for Iraq and its people and who only cares for their own interests and benefit. | She added that people knew better who to vote for than in 2005: "This time we know who cares for Iraq and its people and who only cares for their own interests and benefit. |
| "This time we won't let those people who have let us down in the past reach power again." | "This time we won't let those people who have let us down in the past reach power again." |
| Sunni participation | Sunni participation |
| The turnout was reported to be brisk even in Sunni areas. | The turnout was reported to be brisk even in Sunni areas. |
| The head of the Iraqi electoral commission in Anbar province - a centre of the Sunni resistance to the US occupation - said he was expecting a 60% turnout. | The head of the Iraqi electoral commission in Anbar province - a centre of the Sunni resistance to the US occupation - said he was expecting a 60% turnout. |
| Jim Muir takes a look inside an Iraqi polling station | Jim Muir takes a look inside an Iraqi polling station |
| Fewer than 2% voted in the 2005 election, with the result that Shia and Kurdish parties took control of parliament. | Fewer than 2% voted in the 2005 election, with the result that Shia and Kurdish parties took control of parliament. |
| Some Sunnis, like Khaled al-Azemi, said the boycott last time had been a mistake. | Some Sunnis, 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. |