Lines of people were seen outside polling centres in the city, the capital of the Kurdish autonomous region of Kurdistan.

Explosions elsewhere in the country killed 24 people.

Sunni Islamist militants have vowed to disrupt the elections.

That´s one of many challenges to efforts to stabilise Iraq before U.S. troops leave.

About 6,200 candidates from 86 factions are vying for 325 parliamentary seats.

No bloc is expected to win a majority, and it may take months to form a government.

Few elections in the Middle East have been as competitive as this one.

Its conduct could determine how democracy in Iraq affects a region used to kings and presidents-for-life.

Kurdish voter Jalal Mohammed from Arbil said he was was grateful for the democratic elections in Iraq.

UN observer Christine McNab hailed the process as smooth and well-organised.

Iraq´s political course will be decisive for U.S. President Barack Obama´s plans to halve U.S. troop levels over the next five months and withdraw entirely by the end of 2011.

It will also be watched by oil companies planning to invest billions in Iraq.