Iraqi's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki holds up his ink marked finger, as he casts his vote for the Iraqi parlaimentary elections at a polling station in the green zone in Baghdad, Iraq, 07 March 2010. Iraqis headed to the polls amidst heavy security on 07 March morning to cast their votes in the second parliamentary election since the US overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003. Nearly 6,300 candidates are competing for 325 seats in parliament, making it the largest parliamentary election in Iraq's history. The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) says it expects some 18.9 million Iraqis to cast their votes. Over 500,000 local and international observers are monitoring the election process. EPA/ALI ABBAS/POOL +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
Iraqi's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki holds up his ink marked finger, as he casts his vote for the Iraqi parlaimentary elections at a polling station in the green zone in Baghdad, Iraq, 07 March 2010. Iraqis headed to the polls amidst heavy security on 07 March morning to cast their votes in the second parliamentary election since the US overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003. Nearly 6,300 candidates are competing for 325 seats in parliament, making it the largest parliamentary election in Iraq's history. The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) says it expects some 18.9 million Iraqis to cast their votes. Over 500,000 local and international observers are monitoring the election process. EPA/ALI ABBAS/POOL +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa
An Iraqi patient casts his vote at Al-Yarmouk hospital polling station during the special voting in Baghdad, Iraq on 04 March 2010. A special voting started on 04 March as 790,000 Iraqi prisoners, hospital staff and patients, security forces, police and military cast their ballots at 450 polling stations ahead of the 07 March general elections. EPA/ALI HAIDER +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
An Iraqi patient casts his vote at Al-Yarmouk hospital polling station during the special voting in Baghdad, Iraq on 04 March 2010. A special voting started on 04 March as 790,000 Iraqi prisoners, hospital staff and patients, security forces, police and military cast their ballots at 450 polling stations ahead of the 07 March general elections. EPA/ALI HAIDER +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa
Iraqi soldiers show their ink marked fingers to the photographer as they cast their vote at polling station at al-Mansour discrit where suicide bomber explode himself outside it during the special voting in Baghdad,Iraq on 04 March 2010. At least 14 people were killed and 20 others wounded among them Iraqi soldiers in two suicide attacks that targeted polling stations during the special voting day in Baghdad. The special voting in Iraq for detainees, hospital patients and military and security personnel , ahead of the parliamentary elections on 07 March 2010. EPA/ALI HAIDER +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
Iraqi soldiers show their ink marked fingers to the photographer as they cast their vote at polling station at al-Mansour discrit where suicide bomber explode himself outside it during the special voting in Baghdad,Iraq on 04 March 2010. At least 14 people were killed and 20 others wounded among them Iraqi soldiers in two suicide attacks that targeted polling stations during the special voting day in Baghdad. The special voting in Iraq for detainees, hospital patients and military and security personnel , ahead of the parliamentary elections on 07 March 2010. EPA/ALI HAIDER +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa
Iraqi men ride a horse-drawn cart as they pass an election campaign poster depicting Fayrouz Hatem (L), a candidate from the Shiite-led Iraqi National Coalition, and Meqdam Mohammed Ali (R) a candidate of Retired & Employees Party at al-Tahreer Square in central Baghdad, Iraq on 06 March 2010. Over 6,200 candidates from six major coalitions are taking part in the 07 March parliamentary election. There are 325 seats up for grabs. EPA/ALI HAIDER +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
Iraqi men ride a horse-drawn cart as they pass an election campaign poster depicting Fayrouz Hatem (L), a candidate from the Shiite-led Iraqi National Coalition, and Meqdam Mohammed Ali (R) a candidate of Retired & Employees Party at al-Tahreer Square in central Baghdad, Iraq on 06 March 2010. Over 6,200 candidates from six major coalitions are taking part in the 07 March parliamentary election. There are 325 seats up for grabs. EPA/ALI HAIDER +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa
Iraqi army military officer Major General Qassim Atta al-Moussawi, spokesman for operation Fardh al-Qanoon speaks during a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq on 06 March 2010. Atta said that 200,000 security personnel will will be deployed in the security operation and a curfew will be imposed on Baghdad and all airports and border points will also be closed in preparation for the election day. Over 6,200 candidates from six major coalitions are taking part in the 07 March parliamentary election. There are 325 seats up for grabs. EPA/MOHAMMED JALIL +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
Iraqi army military officer Major General Qassim Atta al-Moussawi, spokesman for operation Fardh al-Qanoon speaks during a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq on 06 March 2010. Atta said that 200,000 security personnel will will be deployed in the security operation and a curfew will be imposed on Baghdad and all airports and border points will also be closed in preparation for the election day. Over 6,200 candidates from six major coalitions are taking part in the 07 March parliamentary election. There are 325 seats up for grabs. EPA/MOHAMMED JALIL +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa
Iraqi women weep at the scene of a blast at Kre'at in Baghdad, Iraq, 07 March 2010. At least 12 people are killed as insurgents test the stability of Iraq's young democracy. According to local media reports, dozens of mortar rounds thudded across Baghdad on 07 March morning and at least 12 people were killed as Iraqis went to the polls in an election testing the stability of the country's still-fragile democracy. EPA/ALI HAIDER +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
Iraqi women weep at the scene of a blast at Kre'at in Baghdad, Iraq, 07 March 2010. At least 12 people are killed as insurgents test the stability of Iraq's young democracy. According to local media reports, dozens of mortar rounds thudded across Baghdad on 07 March morning and at least 12 people were killed as Iraqis went to the polls in an election testing the stability of the country's still-fragile democracy. EPA/ALI HAIDER +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa
Iraqi security forces take away ballot boxes after polls closed on the day of early voting in Basra, Iraq, Thursday, March 4, 2010. Early voting in Iraq for detainees, hospital patients and military and security personnel is taking place Thursday, ahead of the parliamentary elections on Sunday, March 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani) ** ZU UNSEREM KORR. **
Iraqi security forces take away ballot boxes after polls closed on the day of early voting in Basra, Iraq, Thursday, March 4, 2010. Early voting in Iraq for detainees, hospital patients and military and security personnel is taking place Thursday, ahead of the parliamentary elections on Sunday, March 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani) ** ZU UNSEREM KORR. ** © AP | AP
Iraqi election committee workers prepare for parliamentary elections, at the IHEC headquarters in Baghdad , Iraq on 06 March 2010. About 19 million Iraqi voters will participate in the parliamentary elections under tight security measures imposed by the Iraqi security forces all over Iraq to protect voters and election stations. EPA/ALI ABBAS +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
Iraqi election committee workers prepare for parliamentary elections, at the IHEC headquarters in Baghdad , Iraq on 06 March 2010. About 19 million Iraqi voters will participate in the parliamentary elections under tight security measures imposed by the Iraqi security forces all over Iraq to protect voters and election stations. EPA/ALI ABBAS +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa