Iraq begins official voting for pivotal election amid blasts
BAGHDAD, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Iraq began its official voting for the country's crucial parliamentary election in the early morning on Sunday. This is the second national poll since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime from U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
More than 18 million voters are expected to go to the polls across the country. There are 8,920 centers and 50,000 stations for the voting. Full story
24 killed in Baghdad bombings as vote underway
BAGHDAD, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Up to 24 people were killed and dozens wounded in waves of mortar barrages and bomb explosions in Baghdad on Sunday, as Iraqis voting in the country's parliamentary election, an Interior Ministry source said.
Four people were killed and six injured when a Katyusha rocket struck the dense populated neighborhood of Hurriyah in northern Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Full story
Two major blasts kill 16 in Baghdad amid election
Beijing, March 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Since Baghdad began its parliamentary election in early morning Sunday, two major explosions occurred in the country’s capital Baghdad, killing 16 people and injuring several others.
Four people were killed and eight others injured when a building collapsed by a powerful bomb explosion in the al-Shurta al-Rabia neighborhood in southwestern Baghdad, source from Iraq’s Interior Ministry told Xinhua. Full story
Explosion rocks Baghdad as general election underway
BAGHDAD, March 7 (Xinhua) -- An explosion is heard in Iraqi capital Baghdad as the country's parliamentary election voting is underway. Full story
Iraq vote: Al-Qaeda casts shadow over democracy process
BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The Iraq's parliamentary elections, scheduled for Sunday, are regarded as crucial for national reconciliation and political process as Al-Qaeda in Iraq had vowed to do all it could to stop the election.
According to electoral organizers, some 19 million Iraqis, including 1.4 million living abroad in 16 countries, are eligible to vote for the 325-seat Iraq's Council of Representatives with some 6,300 candidates. Full story
