Iraqi Forces Cast Ballots Ahead of Election

Local Editor

Security personnel cast their ballots nationwide Monday ahead of Iraq's first election since US troops withdrew.

Uniformed and civilian members of the security forces queued up at schools across Baghdad and around the country as polling stations opened at 7:00 am, leaving with the traditional purple ink-stained finger indicating they had cast their vote.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is bidding for a third term in the April 30 polls.

The month-long campaign has seen Baghdad and other cities plastered with posters and decked out in bunting, as candidates have taken to the streets, staged loud rallies and challenged each other in angry debates.

I have come to vote "for the sake of Iraq, and to change the faces who have not served Iraq," said Ahmed, a policemen wearing civilian clothes who was queuing at a polling station in central Baghdad and declined to give his full name.

"We want to choose better people."

Along with members of the security forces, hospital and prison staff will also vote on Monday.
The election commission meanwhile said that more than 60,000 ballots had so far been cast in out-of-country voting.

Attacks on candidates, election workers and political rallies have cast a shadow over the election, however, and parts of the country that have been out of government control for months will not see any ballots cast.

On Sunday alone, five voting centers in the northern city of Kirkuk were attacked by militants, while authorities have announced a week's public holidays to try to bolster security for the election.

No single party is likely to win an absolute majority, however, and as in previous elections, coalition talks are likely to take months.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team