Iraq holds provincial polls amid tight security
| By DPA
|
Baghdad: Iraqis cast their ballots on Saturday in provincial elections in the largest elections yet in the country's history, as receding violence created conditions which were more secure than those for the national elections held in 2005.
Despite tight security arrangements, violence was reported during the day. Four mortars were fired at polling stations in Tikrit, the hometown of former dictator Saddam Hussein, but no one was hurt, the news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) reported.
In another incident, one person was killed and another wounded during a fight at the entrance of a polling centre in Sadr city in eastern Baghdad, according to a local security source.
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Elections being held in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces were extended by an hour to allow all voters to cast their ballots, Iraqi media reported.
Polling stations were to close at 6 pm instead of 5 pm as originally scheduled.
About 14,400 candidates were contesting 440 provincial seats, creating fierce competition among candidates that was expected to lead to greater representation of the country's sects.
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