Iraqi authorities have begun counting votes a day after the nation held parliamentary elections for only the second time since the 2003 US invasion. On Sunday, thirty-eight people died and eighty were wounded in election day attacks. Despite the threat of violence, voter turnout was higher than expected. Analysts say it could take weeks, if not months, before a new government is formed, because no political party is expected to win an outright majority. Some Sunni politicians boycotted the election after a Shi’ite-led panel barred around 500 candidates from running due to alleged links to Saddam Hussein’s outlawed Baath party. President Obama praised the Iraqi vote.

President Obama: “By any measure, this was an important milestone in Iraqi history. Dozens of parties and coalitions fielded thousands of parliamentary candidates — men and women. Ballots were cast at some 50,000 voting booths. And in a strong turnout, millions of Iraqis exercised their right to vote with enthusiasm and optimism. Today’s voting makes it clear that the future of Iraq belongs to the people of Iraq.”