Iraq elections disrupted by deadly attacks
Updated on 07 March 2010
Explosions have killed an estimated 38 people during polling day in Iraq's parliamentary elections, which Sunni militants vowed to disrupt.
Mortar rounds, rockets and roadside bombs exploded near polling stations in and around Baghdad, in what appeared to be a calculated attack on Iraq's fragile democracy.
Voters are choosing the country's second full-term parliament since the US-led invasion in 2003.
In the deadliest blast, dynamite was used to blow up a Baghdad apartment block. Iraq's interior ministry has revised the death toll in the building to 25.
Four people were killed in a similar explosion at another residential building. At least 65 people have been wounded around the country.
Baghdad's security spokesman, Major General Qassim al-Moussawi, said most of the rockets and mortar bombs had been fired from mainly Sunni districts around Baghdad.
He said: "We and the people will not give in to such threats. The situation is under control. The security forces are deployed in Baghdad and all other areas and are fully implementing the security plan
Despite the violence, he confirmed a car ban aimed at foiling vehicle bombs had been lifted after less than four hours of voting. Curbs on buses and trucks will stay in force.
Iraq's political course will be decisive for President Barack Obama's plans to halve US troop levels over the next five months and withdraw entirely by the end of 2011.
Around 6,200 candidates from 86 factions are vying for 325 parliamentary seats.
