Dubai: Thousands of Iraqis living in the UAE on Friday joined their compatriots worldwide to cast their ballots in their homeland's crucial parliamentary elections.
In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the voting had to be extended following a huge turnout at the polling centres. In Dubai, after the 5pm deadline, a long queue of people were still waiting for their turn, witnesses said.
In pictures: Crucial Iraq poll
Interactive map: Seats in the Iraq elections
The polling centre in Dubai was moved from Al Ahli Sports Club to the Airport Expo and in Abu Dhabi voting took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) instead of at Zayed Sports City.
Lack of documents
Barring a few dozen voters who were not allowed to cast their ballots due to a lack of required documents, polling went smoothly at the Dubai centre.
Confusion set in when voters who are holders of S-class and H-class passports were informed that they would not be permitted to vote. Only those with G-class Iraqi passports were allowed to vote by the authorities in Baghdad, they were told.
An Iraqi who only wanted to be named as Tareq and is based in Qatar had travelled all the way to Dubai along with his family, but he was not allowed to cast his vote since he lacked proper papers.
An election official in Abu Dhabi, who did not want to be named, told Gulf News that the turnout was "excellent". He said that polling had to be extended by an hour due to the huge turnout.
General Raymond T. Odierno, Commanding General of the US Forces in Iraq, said on Facebook more than 650,000 Iraqi security officers, police and others voted on Thursday ahead of the March 7 vote.
"I am impressed with the enthusiasm and professionalism our Iraqi partners are exhibiting and I am hopeful there will be a large voter turnout on Sunday," he added.
Also on Friday, thousands stood in lines at polling stations in Syria and Jordan, home to the largest Iraqi expatriate communities. Voting was also being held in more than a dozen other countries.
Voting in Dubai
Holding their national flag, Iraqis on Friday made their way towards the Airport Expo in Dubai to cast their vote in their country's national elections.
The place swarmed with enthusiastic Iraqis who had come from all over the UAE, all morning.
Security was tight with Dubai Police keeping a hawk’s eye on those who are entering the premises.
"This is the first time I am casting my vote since I left Iraq eight years back," said Ali, who preferred to go by his first name.
"I gave my vote to [Prime Minister Nouri] Al Maliki because in my opinion he is doing a reasonably good job in office," he added.
Pointing his forefinger dipped in blue ink as a sign of being a successful voter, Karim Haider looked delighted.
He said; "I am so excited and happy to be able to have a say in this elections. The way it has been organsied is commendable. I got my wife and family to vote as well. "
According to an official source at the election booth, an estimated 95,000 are eligible to vote.
Some Iraqis were seen clicking photographs with their ink stained forefingers held up.
"The photographs are for records," said Talal Mahmoud, a long time resident of Dubai.
