World Leaders Praise Iraq Poll

The vote count is expected to take several days. World leaders have praised the conduct of Iraq's first multi-party elections for more than 50 years.

President Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair - the leaders of the two nations which led the invasion of Iraq - hailed them as a resounding success.

And UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Iraqis should be encouraged to take control of their own future.

After what officials said was a higher turnout than expected, the next few days will be spent counting votes. .

Preliminary results are expected in about six days, with a full result not due for 10 days.
But correspondents say there was a marked division in voting - high in Shia and Kurdish strongholds and much lower in Sunni Arab areas.

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