Iraqi election results expected Thursday

2010-03-09 09:30 BJT

 

Vote counting was underway across Iraq on Monday. Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission said final results will be released within a few days, most likely on Thursday.

US officials say they believe the election will be a solid foundation point for a new US, Iraqi relationship.

Staff at the election offices in Baghdad's Green Zone began counting votes on Monday.

Data from ballot papers will be collected and then processed electronically.

The head of the electoral commission estimated turnout in Sunday's vote to have been between 55 to 60 percent.

An Iraqi member of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) counts ballot boxes stored at the IHEC's headquarters in Baghdad. (AFP/Ahmad al-Rubaye)
An Iraqi member of the Independent High Electoral Commission
(IHEC) counts ballot boxes stored at the IHEC's headquarters
in Baghdad. (AFP/Ahmad al-Rubaye)