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Iraq poll hit by deadly attacks | Iraq poll hit by deadly attacks |
(20 minutes later) | |
Iraq's second parliamentary election since the 2003 invasion has been hit by multiple attacks, with at least 35 people being killed. | Iraq's second parliamentary election since the 2003 invasion has been hit by multiple attacks, with at least 35 people being killed. |
Two buildings were destroyed in Baghdad and dozens of mortars were fired across the capital and elsewhere. | |
Despite the violence, there were long queues of voters at polling stations in a number of cities. | Despite the violence, there were long queues of voters at polling stations in a number of cities. |
Polls closed at 1700 (1400 GMT) but people already in line were allowed to cast their votes. | Polls closed at 1700 (1400 GMT) but people already in line were allowed to cast their votes. |
An immense security operation was mounted, involving more than 500,000 Iraqi security personnel. | An immense security operation was mounted, involving more than 500,000 Iraqi security personnel. |
The border with Iran was closed, thousands of troops were deployed, and vehicles were banned from roads. | The border with Iran was closed, thousands of troops were deployed, and vehicles were banned from roads. |
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki had called on voters to turn out in large numbers, saying that participation would boost democracy. | |
I am not scared and I am not going to stay put at home Baghdad voter In pictures: Election day Iraq: Key facts and figures | |
In Washington US President Barack Obama issued a statement after polls had closed, saying Iraqis had chosen "to shape their future through the political process". | |
"We mourn the tragic loss of life today, and honour the courage and resilience of the Iraqi people who once again defied threats to advance their democracy," he said. | "We mourn the tragic loss of life today, and honour the courage and resilience of the Iraqi people who once again defied threats to advance their democracy," he said. |
Multiple attacks | Multiple attacks |
There were mortar, grenade and bomb attacks in Baghdad and in other cities, including Mosul, Falluja, Baquba and Samarra. | |
But the capital was hardest hit, with dozens of mortar shells falling in several neighbourhoods. Twenty-five people were killed in one explosion that destroyed a residential building in the north of the city. | |
AT THE SCENE By Gabriel Gatehouse, BBC News, Baghdad | AT THE SCENE By Gabriel Gatehouse, BBC News, Baghdad |
Despite the violence of the morning there was a steady stream of voters throughout the day at polling stations around Baghdad. | Despite the violence of the morning there was a steady stream of voters throughout the day at polling stations around Baghdad. |
Some complained that their names were missing from the register and so were unable to cast their vote. | Some complained that their names were missing from the register and so were unable to cast their vote. |
But overall the poll appears to have gone smoothly and the massive security operation to have prevented any large scale attacks. | But overall the poll appears to have gone smoothly and the massive security operation to have prevented any large scale attacks. |
The counting of the vote will be followed by what is likely to be a long and fragile period of negotiations between the various political parties before a new government is formed. | The counting of the vote will be followed by what is likely to be a long and fragile period of negotiations between the various political parties before a new government is formed. |
Despite the attacks, turnout was reported to have been steady in Baghdad and elsewhere. | |
Queues were also reported at polling stations in Sunni areas of the country, where many people in 2005 decided not to vote. | |
The election took place against a backdrop of much-reduced violence, with casualty figures among civilians, Iraqi forces and US troops significantly lower than in recent years. | |
But hundreds of people are still being killed each month, corruption is high and the provision of basic services such as electricity is still sporadic. | |
Islamic militants had pledged to disrupt the voting process with attacks - a group affiliated to al-Qaeda distributed leaflets in Baghdad warning people not to go to the polls. | Islamic militants had pledged to disrupt the voting process with attacks - a group affiliated to al-Qaeda distributed leaflets in Baghdad warning people not to go to the polls. |
'Important choice' | 'Important choice' |
Candidates from 86 factions were vying for 325 parliamentary seats, with some 19 million Iraqis eligible to vote. | Candidates from 86 factions were vying for 325 parliamentary seats, with some 19 million Iraqis eligible to vote. |
IRAQI GENERAL ELECTION Voting to elect 325-member parliament.About 19 million eligible voters out of 28 millionAround 6,200 candidates from 86 factions competing200,000 security personnel on duty in BaghdadKey issues: Security, services and disqualification of alleged BaathistsPrevious votes: Jan 2005 (transitional national assembly), Oct 2005 (constitution), Dec 2005 first post-invasion parliament, Feb 2009 (local elections) Guide to groups in Iraqi election Bridging Sunni-Shia divides New Kurdish party's challenge Send us your comments | IRAQI GENERAL ELECTION Voting to elect 325-member parliament.About 19 million eligible voters out of 28 millionAround 6,200 candidates from 86 factions competing200,000 security personnel on duty in BaghdadKey issues: Security, services and disqualification of alleged BaathistsPrevious votes: Jan 2005 (transitional national assembly), Oct 2005 (constitution), Dec 2005 first post-invasion parliament, Feb 2009 (local elections) Guide to groups in Iraqi election Bridging Sunni-Shia divides New Kurdish party's challenge Send us your comments |
Despite Sunday's attacks, Iraq's independent electoral commission said only two of 50,000 polling stations across the country had been closed for short periods due to security concerns. | Despite Sunday's attacks, Iraq's independent electoral commission said only two of 50,000 polling stations across the country had been closed for short periods due to security concerns. |
In Azamiyah (northern Baghdad), Walid Abid, 40, cast his vote to the crumple of mortars exploding not far away. | In Azamiyah (northern Baghdad), Walid Abid, 40, cast his vote to the crumple of mortars exploding not far away. |
"I am not scared and I am not going to stay put at home," said the father-of-two. | "I am not scared and I am not going to stay put at home," said the father-of-two. |
"Until when? We need to change things. If I stay home and not come to vote, Azamiyah will get worse," Associated Press news agency quoted him as saying. | "Until when? We need to change things. If I stay home and not come to vote, Azamiyah will get worse," Associated Press news agency quoted him as saying. |
The previous election, in 2005, saw Mr Maliki become prime minister with Shia Muslim parties dominating the legislature. | The previous election, in 2005, saw Mr Maliki become prime minister with Shia Muslim parties dominating the legislature. |
President Jalal Talabani was among the first to vote on Sunday in Suleimaniya, and said the election marked both a step, and a test, on Iraq's march to democracy. | |
In a rare public appearance, radical Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, speaking in neighbouring Iran, urged Iraqis to vote and to reject violence. | In a rare public appearance, radical Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, speaking in neighbouring Iran, urged Iraqis to vote and to reject violence. |
Test for democracy? | Test for democracy? |
Iraq's last elections were in February 2009, when voters chose local representatives. | Iraq's last elections were in February 2009, when voters chose local representatives. |
Sunday's elections are being seen as a crucial test for Iraq's national reconciliation process ahead of a planned US military withdrawal in stages. | Sunday's elections are being seen as a crucial test for Iraq's national reconciliation process ahead of a planned US military withdrawal in stages. |
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The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse visits a polling station in Baghdad | The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse visits a polling station in Baghdad |
US President Barack Obama plans to withdraw combat forces by the middle of this year and all US troops are expected to be out of Iraq by the end of 2011. | US President Barack Obama plans to withdraw combat forces by the middle of this year and all US troops are expected to be out of Iraq by the end of 2011. |
Correspondents say Prime Minister Maliki looks likely to retain power at the head of his Shia-led coalition. | Correspondents say Prime Minister Maliki looks likely to retain power at the head of his Shia-led coalition. |
The key will be whether Mr Maliki can bring Iraq's embittered Sunni minority into his government and make them feel they have a stake in Iraq's political future again. | The key will be whether Mr Maliki can bring Iraq's embittered Sunni minority into his government and make them feel they have a stake in Iraq's political future again. |
Expatriate votes cast in Jordan and Syria could play a deciding role in a tight election race, counting for around 10 seats. | Expatriate votes cast in Jordan and Syria could play a deciding role in a tight election race, counting for around 10 seats. |
There was a reportedly high turnout, with estimates suggesting 800,000 people cast ballots. | There was a reportedly high turnout, with estimates suggesting 800,000 people cast ballots. |
Are you in Iraq? Are you voting? What is the atmosphere like? Send us your comments and pictures. | Are you in Iraq? Are you voting? What is the atmosphere like? Send us your comments and pictures. |
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100.If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100.If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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