Polling stations bombed as Iraq elections begin

A suicide bomber has attacked a polling station in Baghdad killing at least three soldiers and wounding 15 others, it has been reported.

Early voting has begun for hundreds of thousands of government employees in Iraq's parliamentary elections.

Earlier in the day, another blast killed five and wounded 10 people near a polling station.

On Wednesday three suicide bombers attacked police and a hospital in Baquba, killing at least 30 people.

There were conflicting accounts of the first bomb in north-west Baghdad.

Security test

Some reports said it was a roadside booby-trap, others said a rocket had been fired near a school due to be used as a polling station on Sunday.

Early voting is for members of the security services, prisoners and the sick.

The rest of the country will be going to the polls on Sunday.

Security is currently on high alert.

More than 6,000 candidates will be competing for 325 seats in the election.

Travel around the country has been restricted and the authorities have cancelled all leave for security services.

On polling day itself, more than 200,000 security personnel will be on duty in Baghdad.

The election will be a security test for the country as the US military is preparing to reduce its presence by around half this summer and withdraw completely from Iraq by 2011.

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