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Early voting begins in Iraq poll Polling stations attacked in Iraq
(about 2 hours later)
Early voting has begun for about 750,000 government employees in Iraq's parliamentary elections. A suicide bomber has attacked a polling station in Baghdad killing at least three soldiers and wounding 15 others, it has been reported.
As members of the security services went to the polls, five people were killed when a roadside bomb went off in Baghdad, it was reported. Early voting has begun for hundreds of thousands of government employees in Iraq's parliamentary elections.
The rest of the country will be going to the polls on Sunday. Security is currently on high alert. Earlier in the day, another blast killed five and wounded 10 people near a polling station.
On Wednesday, a suicide bombers targeted police and a hospital in Baquba and killed more than 30 people. On Wednesday three suicide bombers attacked police and a hospital in Baquba, killing at least 30 people.
There were conflicting accounts of the first bomb in north-west Baghdad.
Security test
Some reports said it was a roadside booby-trap, others said a rocket had been fired near a school due to be used as a polling station on Sunday.
Early voting is for members of the security services, prisoners and the sick.
The rest of the country will be going to the polls on Sunday.
Security is currently on high alert.
More than 6,000 candidates will be competing for 325 seats in the election.More than 6,000 candidates will be competing for 325 seats in the election.
Travel around the country has been restricted and the authorities have cancelled all leave for security services.Travel around the country has been restricted and the authorities have cancelled all leave for security services.
On polling day itself, more than 200,000 security personnel will be on duty in Baghdad.On polling day itself, more than 200,000 security personnel will be on duty in Baghdad.
The election will be a security test for the country as the US military is preparing to reduce its presence by around half this summer and withdraw completely from Iraq by 2011.The election will be a security test for the country as the US military is preparing to reduce its presence by around half this summer and withdraw completely from Iraq by 2011.