Thursday, December 15 2005 11:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Baghdad: Iraqis went to the polls today (Dec 15, 2005) in a watershed election for a full-term parliament which the international community hopes will restore stability and sovereignty to the strife-torn nation.

Despite blanket security, a huge blast was heard just after voting began, with a security source reporting it occurred inside Baghdad's heavily-protected Green Zone that houses the Iraqi Government and the US embassy.

Details on possible casualties were not immediately available.

The stringent security measures have brought Iraq to a virtual standstill as about 15.5 million Iraqis are called to vote for a new Government many hope will restore stability and pave the way for an exit for foreign troops.

The ballot, the third in this year, marks a new beginning for Iraq following the chaos of a lightning US-led drive to oust Saddam Hussein in 2003, two transitional Governments and the adoption of a constitution in October.

In a taste of Western-exported pluralism, 7,655 candidates and 307 political entities, nearly triple the number that stood for election in January, are competing for 275 seats in a four-year legislature, with Sunni turnout expected to be much higher this time around.

"It's a national celebration for all Iraqis," said President Jalal Talabani, the country's first Kurdish head of state, who was the first to cast his ballot in the northern city of Sulaimaniyah.

Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (0930 IST) and were to close at 5:00 pm.