(31 Jan 2009) HEADLINE: Under tight security, Iraqis go to the polls
CAPTION: Iraqis vote in provincial elections under tight security. The vote is seen as a test for the nation's stability as the U.S. weighs dialing down its troop presence here. (Jan. 31)
[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]
[Notes:VO people lining up to vote, casting ballots]
ELECTION DAY IN IRAQ ... WITH VOTERS PASSING THROUGH SECURITY CHECKPOINTS AND PAST RAZOR WIRE TO CAST THEIR BALLOT.
POLLS ARE NOW CLOSED IN THESE PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS ... CONSIDERED A CRUCIAL TEST OF THE NATION'S STABILITY AS THE U-S WEIGHS WITHDRAWING TROOPS.
FOR THE MOST PART ... THIS HAS BEEN A PEACEFUL ELECTION, WITH NO EPISODES OF MASS VIOLENCE.
MORE THAN 14-THOUSAND CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING FOR 440 SEATS ON INFLUENTIAL COUNCILS IN IRAQ'S PROVINCES ... THE CANDIDATE COUNT INCLUDES ALMOST 4-THOUSAND WOMEN.
IN BAGDHAD'S GREEN ZONE, PRIME MINISTER NOURI AL-MALIKI VOTED ... DIPPING HIS FINGER IN PURPLE INK, SIGNIFYING HE HAD ALREADY VOTED.
[Notes:NATS UP Arabic]
HE SAYS HE IS NOT WORRIED SO FAR ... THERE HAVE NOT BEEN DANGEROUS CASES OF FRAUD AND VOTERS HAVE NOT BEEN PREVENTED FROM CASTING BALLOTS.
PRELIMINARY RESULTS ARE NOT EXPECTED BEFORE THURSDAY.
THIS ELECTION COULD AMOUNT TO A DRESS REHEARSAL FOR NATIONAL ELECTIONS LATER THIS YEAR ... WHEN THE U-S BACKED NOURI AL-MALIKI COULD FACE A POLITICAL CHALLENGE FROM THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST SHIITE PARTY, THE SUPREME ISLAMIC IRAQI COUNCIL.
APTN STORY NUMBER: 594302
DATELINE: Baghdad, 31 Jan 2009
LENGTH: 01:34
++NIGHT SHOTS++
SHOTLIST
1. Exterior of polling station
2. Election official puts security tag on ballot box
3. Close up of tag on ballot box
4. Election officials at their desk in polling station
5. Election official puts security tag on ballot box
6. Election officials in polling station carrying official papers
7. Two election officials sitting down
8. Election officials in polling station carrying official papers
9. Exterior of second polling station guarded by Iraqi soldiers, doors being closed
10. Election official examines security tag on ballot box
11. Election official cuts security tag on ballot box and pours ballots onto table for counting by lamplight
12. Various of election officials counting ballots
13. Exterior of polling station
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