This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8168421.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Ruling Kurds face poll challenge Ruling Kurds face poll challenge
(about 6 hours later)
Voting is under way for a new president and parliament in the autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan, with the governing coalition facing a vigorous challenge. There has been brisk voting in the autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan, where elections are being held for a new president and parliament.
A BBC correspondent says turnout is expected to be high, with queues of people outside polling stations before they had opened. Incumbent President Masood Barzani and the ruling parliamentary coalition are expected to win re-election, but face a stiff challenge from reformists.
Incumbent President Masood Barzani and the ruling parliamentary coalition are both expected to win re-election. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, himself a Kurd, called it a great day for the Kurdish region.
But the two main parties, the KDP and PUK, are fighting off reformists. Official results are not expected to be declared until early next week.
The outcome is being watched closely in Baghdad, in the light of long-running tensions with the Kurds over land, oil, and power. Polling was extended for an hour because some voters were unable to find their names on registration lists.
Some 20,000 troops have been stationed at polling stations, with 2.5 million people are registered to vote. The BBC's Jim Muir in Suleimaniya says the scorching heat of an Iraqi summer did not deter voters from queuing up throughout the day outside the polling stations, eager to register their ballots after a campaign that has brought Kurdish politics to life.
President Barzani heads the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), one of the two big Kurdish parties, who were once rivals, but now partners in the ruling coalition. Polling was reported to be particularly heavy in the poorer areas of the big Kurdish cities - a factor which could favour the reformist Change movement, he says.
There are four other candidates, but none is likely to come close. He says people will be watching the outcome closely, to see how many seats the reformists manage to take away from the two big parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
It is the first time the president of Kurdistan is being elected directly by popular vote. President Barzani, who heads the KDP, said he hoped the elections would be a "first step to solving issues with Baghdad", alluding to long-running tensions with the Kurds over land, oil, and power.
Parliamentary elections were last held in 2005.
New challengerNew challenger
In the parliamentary election, the KDP and PUK, which is led by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, are fielding a joint list for the 100 seats being contested. Another 11 seats are reserved for minorities.
'Vibrant' election campaign Q&A: Iraq Kurdistan poll Timeline: Iraqi Kurds'Vibrant' election campaign Q&A: Iraq Kurdistan poll Timeline: Iraqi Kurds
In the parliamentary stakes, the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which is led by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, are fielding a joint list for the 100 seats being contested. Another 11 seats are reserved for minorities.
While the coalition is generally expected to win, the two parties' dominance is facing a serious new challenge from the Change movement, led by Noshirwan Mustafa.While the coalition is generally expected to win, the two parties' dominance is facing a serious new challenge from the Change movement, led by Noshirwan Mustafa.
The movement has shaken the establishment with its demand for an end to corruption and elitism, and seems to have strong support particularly in the eastern areas, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Kurdistan. The movement has shaken the establishment with its demand for an end to corruption and elitism, and seems to have strong support particularly in the eastern areas, says our correspondent.
Some of its more optimistic supporters believe it could win enough seats to team up with Islamists and leftists to deny the two big parties a majority.Some of its more optimistic supporters believe it could win enough seats to team up with Islamists and leftists to deny the two big parties a majority.
While that seems unlikely, the movement is certainly expected to do well enough to form a vocal opposition in parliament for the first time, our correspondent says. While that seems unlikely, the movement is certainly expected to do well enough to form a vocal opposition in parliament for the first time, our correspondent adds.
Some 20,000 troops have been stationed at polling stations, with 2.5 million people registered to vote.
It is the first time the president of Kurdistan is being elected directly by popular vote.
Parliamentary elections were last held in 2005.