Wisam Al-Bayati, Press TV, Baghdad
Iraq election one step closer to democracy?
Zhiar Sarkawt, Press TV, Arbil
Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:55:02 GMT | PressTV
 The voting ended late Saturday |
Iraqi Premier Nuri al-Maliki hails Iraq's provincial elections, as millions of Iraqi voters cast their ballots in a largely violence-free poll.
The prime minister said that the vote 'is a victory for all the Iraqis,' after casting his ballot in the highly fortified Green Zone in Baghdad.
He said an expected high turnout will be an indicator of 'the Iraqi people's trust in their government and in the elections and proof that the Iraqi people are now living in real security.'
He said an expected high turnout will be an indicator of 'the Iraqi people's trust in their government and in the elections and proof that the Iraqi people are now living in real security.'
"The purple fingers have returned to build Iraq," he said referring to the ink on index fingers that showed voters have cast their ballots.
US president Barack Obama also praised the polling and said: "This important step forward should continue the process of Iraqis taking responsibility for their future.”
Security for the country's first ballot since 2005 was extremely tight all over the country.
US president Barack Obama also praised the polling and said: "This important step forward should continue the process of Iraqis taking responsibility for their future.”
Security for the country's first ballot since 2005 was extremely tight all over the country.
Traffic bans were ordered for Baghdad and other major Iraqi cities. A nighttime curfew was also in place, apparently to avoid extremist groups that plant roadside bombs under cover of darkness.
Hundreds of women, including teachers and civic workers, had also been recruited to help search for possible female suicide bombers.
As a result, only a few violent incidents interrupted what was an otherwise peaceful vote, which ended at 1500 GMT, an hour later than planned.
Initial results are expected to start rolling in next week, but the complete results will take several weeks, Iraq's electoral commission chief Faraj al-Haydari said.
About 15 million people were eligible to vote to elect councils in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces.
Haydari said the turnout would be announced on Sunday.
Staffan de Mistura, UN special envoy to Iraq, described voter turnout as 'heavy' without mentioning exact figures.
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