UK Iraq elections voting closes

This weekend will see the most votes cast in the UK

UK-based Iraqis have finished voting in their home country's first multi-party elections for 50 years.

There were excited scenes as the exiles made their choice at polling stations in London, Manchester and Glasgow.

At least 36 people died on Sunday in attacks that centred on Baghdad, though mortars and explosions have been heard in other cities around the country.

Britain's ambassador in Iraq told the BBC that despite the violence, there is overwhelming support for the elections.

Edward Chaplin told BBC1's Frost programme on Sunday: "Whilst any violence is regrettable, particularly that which results in a loss of life, no act of violence has yet succeeded in closing a polling station and I think it is very encouraging."

"Around the country there is no mistaking the huge enthusiasm for the elections," he told Sir David Frost.

Of 150,000 UK resident eligible to vote, 30,961 registered.

About 250,000 Iraqis live in the UK. In all, 16,184 registered to vote in London, 13,444 in Manchester and 1,333 in Glasgow.

THE IRAQ ELECTION Iraqis will vote for a 275-member transitional assembly Political parties have submitted lists of candidates Every third candidate put forward must be a woman Candidates must be aged at least 30 The election treats the country as one constituency A system of proportional representation will be used The result is expected to be announced around 20 February The assembly will firstly elect a president and two deputies It will then choose a prime minister - the key figure Fighting at Manchester poll

Electors were voting for a 275-member assembly which will choose a president for Iraq and the make-up of a government headed by a prime minister.

Votes were being cast amid tight security, with police intervening to keep separate voters from demonstrators outside London's polling station in Wembley.

Scuffles broke out in Manchester where Iraqis clashed with police.

Oldham Athletic manager Brian Talbot was also attacked after his car became stuck in traffic near the disturbance.

Metropolitan Police Superintendent Steve Deehan said 80 officers had been deployed to cordon off two demonstrations staged separately at Wembley by the Hizb ut-Tahrir group and the Iraqi Communist Party.

He said: "All the groups have problems with each other. As a result of the antagonism between them, we have had to place cordons between them."

Paul Darmoo, one of the Iraqis casting a vote at the Wembley station, said of the protestors: "Some people are scared of freedom, there will always be tension."

A spokesman for Hizb ut-Tahrir described the election as "a sham", adding: "Voting is aiding the occupation".

The count is expected to start on Tuesday with the result expected later in February.