In pictures: Iraqi election views

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 he wouldn'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."

Interviews and photos by
Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images for BBC News