Iraqi leaders hail vote as historic turning-point

Voting amid high-security in the heavily-fortified Green Zone, home to the government and US embassy, officials put on a brave face over the election, which was marred by a spate of rocket and mortar attacks within its first hours.

"Voting bureaus have opened all over Iraq and until now we have not been informed of any problems," Abdul Hussein al-Hindawi, the chairman of Iraq's Independent Electoral Commission, told AFP early in the morning.

Interim President Ghazi al-Yawar was the first official to vote.

"Thank God, Thank God. Blessed are the Iraqi elections. We greet all Iraqi people and urge them not to give up their rights, to vote for Iraq, elect Iraq and not to give up on Iraq," Yawar said seconds after casting his ballot.

"I am your brother and the father of the younger generations. I tell you don't give up your rights and it is your duty to elect Iraq."

Sheikh Yawar, draped in white and yellow robes, plunked his vote in a clear plastic ballot box at 7:05 am (0405 GMT).

Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi cast his ballot Sunday, touting it as the culmination of his eight-month turbulent tenure in office.

"The most obvious aspect of the success of this election today is that they are being held at the scheduled date. This is an accomplishment the government and myself are very proud of," he told reporters after casting his vote.

"This is the start of a new era, for the first time, Iraqis are deciding on their own future and defying the terrorist forces," he added.

Shia political frontrunner Abdel Aziz Hakim, who tops the candidate list of Grand Ayatollah Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, also voted and hailed the day's significance.

"Today's elections are very important because they will decide the country's future," Hakim told reporters.