Iraqis voted today in an election testing the mettle of the country’s still-fragile democracy as insurgents killed 25 people across the Iraq, unleashing a barrage of mortars intent on disrupting the historic day.

A STRING of deadly blasts shattered an early round of voting in Iraq yesterday, killing 17 people and highlighting the fragile nature of the country’s security gains ahead of crucial parliamentary elections this Sunday.

A series of explosions targeted voters across Baghdad killing at least 17 people today, heightening tension ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections.