Three polling stations in
Thursday that killed at least 14 people, an apparent attempt to sow fear
ahead of elections Sunday that Iraqis hope will stabilize their country
after years of bloodshed.
The attacks occurred on a day that security forces
and hospital patients cast the first ballots in the parliamentary
elections that will choose the next four-year government. The bombings
came a day after similar assaults in the northeastern city of
more than 30 people.
In the wake of the blasts, streets were quiet in the
capital as tense-looking police and army manned checkpoints and
carefully searched cars. Security forces locked down the sites of the
explosions.
The first blast Thursday was at a voting center in
the primarily Shiite Muslim neighborhood of Hurriya in west
killed six people and wounded at least 31. Police said a bomb caused the
explosion, while some residents said they believed it was a rocket.
In east
four soldiers at a polling center in the Baab Madhim area when an army
officer opened fire on him as he tried to enter, according to television
news channels.
In the Mansour neighborhood, four soldiers were
killed when a suicide bomber set off his explosives near a polling
station, according to police officials.
Despite the attacks, people in
determine to vote.
“I am not surprised to hear about these bombings
today. We were expecting them and we will witness more violence, I
think,” said Rafid Mahmood Qassum, a 38-year-old teacher. “I don’t know
whom to vote for yet. I have not decided, but I will definitely
participate.”
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