Iraqis brave threat of violence to cast ballots

Iraqis braved the threat of bombs and attacks to vote today in key elections for a new parliament amid a massive security operation as the country slides deeper into sectarian strife.
Hundreds of thousands of troops and police fanned out to protect the first nationwide balloting since the 2011 American pullout. Scattered attacks still took place north of Baghdad, killing at least five people, including two women, and wounding 16.
Baghdad looked like a deserted city, with police and soldiers manning checkpoints roughly 500 meters apart and pickup trucks mounted with machine-guns roaming streets that were otherwise devoid of the usual traffic jams.

Stores were closed, and many voters had to walk for kilometers to the polls after authorities banned civilian vehicles to prevent car bombs. Others demanded a lift from army or police checkpoints.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has held power for eight years, faces growing criticism over government corruption and persistent bloodshed as sectarian tensions threaten to push Iraq back toward the brink of civil war.
The 63-year-old Shiite leader's State of Law party was widely expected to win the most seats in the 328-member parliament but to fall short of a majority, according to analyst predictions. That would allow al-Maliki to keep his post only if he can cobble together a coalition - a task that took nine months after the last election in 2010.

"God willing, we will celebrate a successful election and defeat terrorism," al-Maliki told reporters after casting his ballot in Baghdad. He was upbeat about how his party will fare. "Our victory is certain but we are talking about how big is that certain success," he said.

Even some of al-Maliki's Shiite backers accuse him of trying to amass power for himself, but most in the majority sect see no alternative. Al-Maliki also has the support of neighboring powerhouse Iran, which aides have said will use its weight to push discontented Shiite factions into backing him for another term.
Polls opened across the energy-rich nation at 7 a.M. (local time) and were to close at 6 p.M. There were 22 million eligible voters, choosing from more than 9,000 candidates. Turnout stood at 30 per cent with four hours left to vote, according to Muqdad al-Shuraifi, a senior election commission member.

Election officials did not offer a timetable for releasing results, but they were expected to start trickling out in coming days. Results weren't announced until about two weeks after the 2010 balloting.