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| An Iraqi woman carries her child as she casts her vote in the polling center during Iraq's historical parliamentary in the city of Basra, south of Baghdad December 15, 2005. (Photo: Xinhua) |
BAGHDAD, Dec. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraq's general
elections started early on Thursday as eligible voters headed to polling
stations to elect their first full-term parliament since the US-led invasion
toppled the Saddam Hussein regime in 2003.
Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (0400 GMT), which
were under tight security measures and voters should pass several checkpoints
around their voting station.
Fifteen million Iraqis are eligible to vote in the
elections for the country's first full-term parliament.
A powerful explosion heard in Baghdad's heavily
fortified Green Zone as the polls kicked off early on Thursday.
Few minutes after the country's landmark election
begun, a powerful explosion struck the Green Zone in central Baghdad as smoke
rose over the area and sirens wailed, a police source told Xinhua on condition
of anonymity.
There were no immediate reports of any casualties or
damage.
The heavily fortified Green Zone, houses the Iraqi government offices and the US embassy, frequently attacked by insurgents with mortar rounds and rockets. Enditem
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