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| Iraqis vote in landmark elections | Iraqis vote in landmark elections |
| (about 1 hour 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. | 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. Correspondents in Baghdad, where there has been a total ban on vehicles, said voting started slowly. | Sunnis largely boycotted the last ballot. Correspondents in Baghdad, where there has been a total ban on vehicles, said voting started slowly. |
| 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. |
| Security is tight and thousands of observers are monitoring the polls. | Security is tight and thousands of observers are monitoring the polls. |
| Up to 15 million Iraqis are eligible to cast votes. | Up to 15 million Iraqis are eligible to cast votes. |
| We didn't vote and we saw the result - sectarian violence Khaled al-Azemi Sunni speaking about 2005 boycott In pictures: Iraq's landmark poll | We didn't vote and we saw the result - sectarian violence Khaled al-Azemi Sunni speaking about 2005 boycott In pictures: Iraq's landmark poll |
| "This is a great chance for us, a great day, to be able to vote freely without any pressure or interference," a Baghdad voter identified as Hamid told Reuters news agency. | |
| Another voter said he had not slept in order to be first at the polling station. | Another voter said he had not slept in order to be first at the polling station. |
| "I want this experience to be a success, and that there will no fraud," said Adnan al-Janabi. | "I want this experience to be a success, and that there will no fraud," said Adnan al-Janabi. |
| Security tight | Security tight |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad said voters had to pass through stringent security checks to reach the polling stations, which were mostly set up in schools. | The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad said voters had to pass through stringent security checks to reach the polling stations, which were mostly set up in schools. |
| As voting got underway, several mortar rounds landed near polling stations in Tikrit, hometown of late ruler Saddam Hussein, but no casualties were reported. | As voting got underway, several mortar rounds landed near polling stations in Tikrit, hometown of late ruler Saddam Hussein, but no casualties were reported. |
| 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 | |
| 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. |
| At least eight of the 14,000 candidates have been killed in the run up to the election. | At least eight of the 14,000 candidates have been killed in the run up to the election. |
| Three of the candidates - all Sunni Muslims - were killed on Thursday, in Baghdad, Mosul and Diyala province. | Three of the candidates - all Sunni Muslims - were killed on Thursday, in Baghdad, Mosul and Diyala province. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| Despite intimidation, many Sunni voters say they will vote this time. | Despite intimidation, many Sunni voters 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. |
| 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. |
| There is no vote 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 vote 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. |
| Are you casting your vote in Iraq today? What are your hopes for your ballot? If you are in Iraq, tell us about your voting experience by filling in the form below. | Are you casting your vote in Iraq today? What are your hopes for your ballot? If you are in Iraq, tell us about your voting experience by filling in the form below. |