Irish Iraqis travel overseas to vote for the first time in their lives

"I CAME because I have never had a chance to vote in my life. This is a big opportunity for Iraqis," said Khalid Ibrahim, spokesman for the Iraqi Human Rights Organisation in Ireland after he had flown from Dublin to Glasgow to vote yesterday.

Mr Ibrahim, 39, who is originally from Ammarah City in southern Iraq, left his homeland in 1991 to move to Moscow, but has lived in Dublin for the past 10 years.

Asked how he thought the people of Iraq would respond to Sunday's election, Mr Ibrahim said: "I think more than 70% of Iraqis will go to the polls.

"You will see people anxious to participate in this election.

"We just want to elect a government that is going to lead Iraq to a prosperous future."

On the widespread security fears ahead of Sunday's poll, he said: "The terrorists have said they're going to kill people who participate in this free election.

"But the majority of Iraqis hold different views from the terrorists who killed thousands of innocents in New York, Madrid and now Iraq.

"The terrorists don't want to listen to the majority of the people in Iraq."

Mr Ibrahim expressed concern about the number of Iraqis unable to vote worldwide and highlighted the reality that Iraqis are only eligible to vote in 14 countries even though it has citizens in more than 80 nations.

He stressed that there is only one polling station in Africa and none in Latin America.

But Mr Ibrahim said he was optimistic for his country's future.

"I'm sure we will have a better future with a strong government.

"A government that will choose peace other than terrorism and democracy other than dictatorship."