Voting begins in Iraq regional polls

Voting began in Iraq in provincial elections that will test the war-weary country's security gains and possibly help to soothe lingering sectarian and ethnic tensions that still fuel violence.

Voting began in Iraq on Saturday in provincial elections that will test the war-weary country's security gains and possibly help to soothe lingering sectarian and ethnic tensions that still fuel violence.

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Voting stations, enveloped in rings of tight security to deter suicide bomb attacks by insurgents, opened at 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) and were due to close again at 5 pm (1400 GMT).