Polls Closed in Iraq

From all indications this was an extremely successful election. Turnout was VERY high and the few instances of violence proved to be ineffective and inconsequential.

Update: Iraqi election commission extends voting by 1 hour due to high turnout.

Update II: Historic Day

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Elections for Iraq's first full-term parliament since the fall of Saddam Hussein appear to have been successful, the U.N. envoy to Iraq said on Thursday.

"Anecdotal evidence shows that there has been a good turnout, that it was inclusive and that security was well maintained," Ashraf Qazi told Reuters just before most polling stations closed.

"These are good measures of success," he said.

Qazi, the special representative of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, said it was still too early to make a definitive judgement on the polls but initial signs were good.

"All in all it is a historic day and a good day," he said

Update III: Exit Polling?

Informal polling by Reuters around the country showed the ruling Shi'ite Islamist Alliance and their Kurdish allies still dominant in their southern and northern bases respectively.

But there also seemed to be a strong turnout in favor of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who heads a secular slate with candidates from across Iraq's sectarian and ethnic divides.