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Iraqis vote in parliamentary polls in security clampdown Iraqis vote in parliamentary polls in security clampdown
(about 5 hours later)
Iraqis have voted in their country's first parliamentary elections since the withdrawal of US forces in 2011.Iraqis have voted in their country's first parliamentary elections since the withdrawal of US forces in 2011.
Heavy security was in place, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and police deployed to protect polling stations and a vehicle ban in Baghdad.Heavy security was in place, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and police deployed to protect polling stations and a vehicle ban in Baghdad.
Dozens of attacks targeting the election across Iraq left 14 people dead, officials say.Dozens of attacks targeting the election across Iraq left 14 people dead, officials say.
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is seeking a third term, amid heightened sectarian tensions and worsening violence. Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, who is seeking a third term, declared that his victory was "certain".
Last year, the death toll in Iraq was the highest since the peak of the sectarian insurgency in 2006 and 2007. "Today is a big success, and even better than the last elections, even though there is no foreign soldier on Iraqi soil," he told reporters.
About 2,000 have been killed in the first three months of this year, during which Sunni tribesmen and militants linked to the jihadist Islamist State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) have taken control of parts of Anbar province. Official results are not expected until May.
The polls came amid heightened sectarian tensions and worsening violence.
Last year, the death toll in Iraq was the highest since the peak of the sectarian insurgency in 2006 and 2007.About 2,000 people have been killed in the first three months of this year, during which Sunni tribesmen and militants linked to the jihadist Islamist State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) have taken control of parts of Anbar province.
Curfew liftedCurfew lifted
Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) said voting was taking place in only 70% of Anbar on Wednesday, with no polling stations open in the insurgent-held city of Falluja. Voting was also limited in the provincial capital, Ramadi, where troops have been waging street battles for months. Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) said voting had taken place in only 70% of Anbar on Wednesday, with no polling stations open in the insurgent-held city of Falluja. Voting was also limited in the provincial capital, Ramadi, where troops have been waging street battles for months. Provisional estimates put turnout at about 60% in those areas that voted.
The streets in Baghdad were almost empty in the morning because the authorities banned cars in an effort to prevent bombings. The streets of Baghdad were almost empty in the morning because of a ban on vehicles, but this was soon lifted to facilitate voting.
Many voters had to make their way to polling stations on foot and faced multiple searches at checkpoints before being allowed to enter.
By early afternoon, national turnout stood at 30%, according to senior election commissioner Muqdad al-Sharifi, and the vehicle curfew in Baghdad had been lifted partially to facilitate voting.
Turnout was expected to pick up in the afternoon before the polls closed at 18:00 (15:00 GMT).
Despite the heavy security presence, officials reported more than 50 attacks on polling stations and people on their way to vote in northern and western Iraq, the AFP news agency said.Despite the heavy security presence, officials reported more than 50 attacks on polling stations and people on their way to vote in northern and western Iraq, the AFP news agency said.
They included mortar fire, roadside bombings and a suicide blast.They included mortar fire, roadside bombings and a suicide blast.
In the northern town of Dibis, a bomb targeted a car carrying IHEC employees, killing two, while in Baiji a policeman died when he jumped on a suicide bomber to protect voters from the blast.In the northern town of Dibis, a bomb targeted a car carrying IHEC employees, killing two, while in Baiji a policeman died when he jumped on a suicide bomber to protect voters from the blast.
Police also shot and killed a would-be suicide bomber before he could blow himself up near a polling station in the northern city of Mosul.Police also shot and killed a would-be suicide bomber before he could blow himself up near a polling station in the northern city of Mosul.
After a week in which 160 people died, the authorities will probably feel the vote was a success, in spite of the deaths reported, the BBC's Kevin Connolly says.After a week in which 160 people died, the authorities will probably feel the vote was a success, in spite of the deaths reported, the BBC's Kevin Connolly says.
US Secretary of State John Kerry praised the millions of Iraqis who he said had "courageously voted".
"With ink-stained thumbs, Iraqi voters sent a powerful rebuke to the violent extremists who have tried to thwart democratic progress and sow discord in Iraq and throughout the region," he said.
'Better life'
Twenty-two million people were eligible to vote in the elections, with 276 political entities and 9,000 candidates contesting the 328 seats in the Council of Representatives.Twenty-two million people were eligible to vote in the elections, with 276 political entities and 9,000 candidates contesting the 328 seats in the Council of Representatives.
While it is difficult to predict the outcome of the poll, Mr Maliki is still expected to be a pivotal figure in the coalition-building process which will follow the election.While it is difficult to predict the outcome of the poll, Mr Maliki is still expected to be a pivotal figure in the coalition-building process which will follow the election.
His Shia-dominated State of Law alliance has largely avoided the fragmentation seen by other political blocs since the last election.His Shia-dominated State of Law alliance has largely avoided the fragmentation seen by other political blocs since the last election.
While exit polls are expected within hours of polls closing, a final result is not likely any time soon. It took nearly 10 months to assemble a government after the last election in 2010, and a similar period of negotiation is also expected on this occasion.
It took nearly 10 months to assemble a government after the last election in 2010, and it is likely to take quite a lot of horse-trading this time, he adds.
Baghdad voter Essam Shukr, whose son died in a suicide bombing last month, told Associated Press: "We want a better life for our sons and grandchildren who cannot even go to playing areas or amusement parks because of the bad security situation. We want a better life for all Iraqis."
Abu Ashraf, who voted in west Baghdad, told AFP: "It is necessary to change most of the politicians because they have done nothing, and they spend years on private conflicts."