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Iraqi election views:

Nabil Haithem, 22, tea house worker
"I am very happy with the elections. Of course I am voting and I am voting for Allawi. He is our man. He is a strong man that the Iraqis need. All this violence will end when a strong Iraqi government is elected."I am very proud that for the first time in our history in Iraq and the Arab world free democratic elections are taking place."

Alliya al-Hussien (Left), 60, fish seller
"Who cares about elections? Look at the situation - no electricity, no water. Solve these problems and then elections. With Zarqawi and his people who can go and vote. My son is a policeman. He left his job and his good salary because of the violence."All we care about now is our living conditions. When Saddam was gone we said life will get better. Nothing happened. Allawi came and nothing happened, and after the elections nothing will happen.

Suad Mizban, 32, poultry seller
"We will vote for whoever can bring security and jobs.
"The government should have provided fuel and security before worrying about elections, but still it is much better than Saddam’s time, at least now we have freedom and can vote for anyone we like before it was Saddam and that is it

Mahmoud al-Rassam, 25, student
"I will not take part of these elections. How can we have elections when the occupation forces have their boots over our necks? What kind of election will it be when most Iraqis are not participating? This is just an American plot to hand the government to their agents and say this is your government.
"Iraq will be like Iran and civil war will take place. These elections are a big joke, I feel ashamed of all those Iraqis deceived by the American propaganda."

Ayoub Sadoon, 70, retired
"Everyone in Iraq just wants one thing; we want to have a stable prosperous state."It doesn’t really matter who wins, what matters is building this country in the way that God and his prophet want. It would have been better to have elections in peaceful times. Those terrorist will kill lots of people on election day with their bombs."

Haj Adnan Rifa’e, 64, shop owner
"If these elections deliver peace and security then they're fien by me. I have seen many things in my life and this will be just another scene. "I won't let any of my family vote. It's too dangerous to go out in the streets and later the Americans will bring in whoever they want anyway."

Hussien abdul-Zahra, 20, labourer
"I will vote. This is the first time the Shia will be in charge in Iraq. After the elections the Americans should leave the country.
"I don’t know who I'll vote for. I like Allawi, but I think the Shia list should win because it is backed by Ayatollah Sistani."

Omar Nai’em, 43, electrician
"All these banners and posters are a big lie. Those people running for elections are agents of the foreigners - the Iranians, Americans and the Israelis. It is not the intimidation that is preventing the people from voting. It's the lies."They claimed that Saddam was a dictator, but what is Allawi now? He is the same - an American stooge and a dictator."

Muhanad Salman (Right) 38, civil servant
"We all have to participate and play a role in these great democratic elections We will never defeat terrorism if we keep hiding in our homes."When we had elections before, it was a big joke. Now there many parties and many choices. It is like a real election anywhere in the world, where the right people become the ministers not the president’s brother."

Um Hussein, 55, orange seller
"How can we not vote when Ayatollah Sistani ordered us to do so. Elections must be good for us because the Sayed won’t order us to do something if it is not right.
"Hopefully after the elections a God fearing government will come to power and things should be fine. We have suffered a lot under Saddam and now because of this Zarqawi we need peace and good life."