Big Turnout in Baghdad Points to Success in Iraq Voting

After a slow start, voters turned out in very large numbers in Baghdad today, packing polling places and creating a party atmosphere in the streets, which were closed to traffic but full of children playing soccer, and men and women, some carrying babies.

After eight hours of voting, with two to go, American officials were showing confidence that today was going to be an amazing success, although they were still wary of major attacks.

In the Karada district of central Baghdad, everyone, it seemed, was walking to the polls, where they lined up to vote 50 people deep.

Historic Vote Underway in Iraq Amid Attacks

Iraq's first democratic election in nearly half a century neared its conclusion Sunday after a day most obervers believed produced better-than-exected turnout and less-than-expected violence.

According to whose expectations?

From an Iraqi's journal on the BBC:

"Today I went and voted! I got up early, went out at 10am with my family and walked to the polling station about 10 minutes from my home. There were many people walking in the street, everyone was running around smiling and happy, it was just like a feast day."