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Iraq Election Officials Report Strong Turn-Out Across the Country
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=102FD6B:3919ACA Millions ignored
sporadic violence to take part in the historic vote for a new
four-year parliament Iraq's democracy took another step forward
Thursday as millions of Iraqis ignored the chance of violence to vote
for a new parliament. VOA's Jim Bertel reports many Iraqis believe
this election gives the country hope for a brighter and more peaceful
future.







An Iraqi shows off her ink-dyed finger showing that she has cast her
voteA stained finger, the mark of democracy shared by millions of
voters in Iraq as the nation went to the polls to elect a permanent
government to lead the country for the next four years.

Across the nation, amid tight security, Iraqis lined up at polling
stations to cast their votes.

Many hope the election will bring peace to Iraq.

Several explosions rocked Baghdad as the polls opened including one
near the heavily fortified green zone that injured several people.

But violence overall was light and officials reported high turnouts by
voters across the country including a large showing by Sunni Arabs who
boycotted Iraq's January election to pick an interim assembly.

Earlier in the week U.S. President George W. Bush described the
democratic steps taken by the Iraqi people this year as historic.







George W. BushThe president says, "But thanks to the courage of the
Iraqi people, the year 2005 will be recorded as a turning point in the
history of Iraq, the history of the Middle East and the history of
freedom."

Election of the new parliament is the final step in the Iraqi
blueprint for democracy following the ratification of the constitution
in October. The new parliament will name a government including a
prime minister. Final results of Thursday's vote are expected to take
days, if not weeks, to determine.


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