By IRNA,
Baghdad : Iraqi government said on Sunday that it held peaceful election with widespread turnout.
In Iraq’s first big vote since 2005, polling stations stayed open for an extra hour to allow late-comers to cast their ballots.
Seen as a test of the country’s democracy and stability, women also voted in large numbers, with female candidates making up some 27 percent of those running.
While he himself was not standing, the vote was also being viewed as a referendum on prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki.
Such tight security had not been seen since the height of the insurgency, but this time around security was exclusively home grown.
Iraqi official told IRNA that the security arrangements are entirely devised and are been carried out by Iraqis.
A curfew and vehicle ban is in operation with Iraq’s international borders closed. The election result is expected on Wednesday.