Iraqis vote in provincial elections
Voting is being held in 14 of the country's 18 provinces today
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Saturday, 31, Jan 2009 09:57
Iraqis are going to the polls today to elect their provincial respresentatives.
A total of 15 million Iraqis are eligible to vote in the elections which are taking place in 14 of the country's 18 provinces. Elections in the oil-rich province of Kirkuk have been delayed while voting in the three semi-autonomous Kurdish regions in the country's north is to take place separately.
Polling stations opened at 0400 GMT and are due to close at 1400 GMT today. Thousands of international observers are present in the country to monitor the vote and the police presence on streets has been tightened at voting centres.
In addition to security checks prior to voting, authorities have also banned cars from running today and have sealed international borders.
A total of 400 political blocs are standing for the 440 seats being contested in the election. Candidates polling the most votes will form councils that will then choose provincial governors.
US troops must leave the country by 2011 and all patrols conducted by foreign troops must end by July 2009.