Strong turnout reported in Iraq election

Iraqis voted in a historic parliamentary election today, with strong turnout reported in Sunni Arab areas that had shunned the election last January. US hopes were high that the election could give Sunnis a greater stake in running the country and help calm the insurgency.

Several explosions rocked Baghdad, including a large one near the heavily fortified Green Zone, and a bomb killed a hospital guard near a polling station in Mosul.