Iraq constitutional referendum opens
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-15 13:56

An Iraqi raises his inked finger after voting in the constitutional referendum in the Sunni-dominated town of Falluja, about 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, October 15, 2005. Polls opened on time on Saturday for the country's landmark referendum, with more than 15 million Iraqis registered to vote "yes" or "no" to a new draft constitution. Iraq has tightened security across the country, closing its borders and increasing police and army patrols, hoping to foil insurgents who have threatened attacks aimed at derailing the vote. [Reuters]

An Iraqi man casts his ballot at a polling station in the southern Iraqi city of Basra October 15, 2005. [Reuters]

An Iraqi woman waits to cast her vote at a polling station in the southern Iraqi city of Basra October 15, 2005. [Reuters]