We start in Iraq where the country's 2018 national elections began this morning. Over 24 million Iraqis are registered to vote today. Nearly nine thousand polling stations are set up across the country. Security is tightened for the first general elections since the defeat of ISIL in Mosul. Roughly one million security personnel are guarding the stations after casting their ballots on Thursday and Friday. Ma Ke has more. 

Competition is fierce in Iraq's first national elections since the country's victory over ISIL. Nearly seven thousand candidates from dozens of political alliances are competing for 329 seats in the Council of Representatives, who will in turn elect the Iraqi President and Prime Minister. This year's voting may also be the most dangerous one in years. Borders are closed and airports shut down for the next 24 hours for security reasons. Nearly a million security personnel have been dispatched to polling stations nationwide due to earlier ISIL threats to attack voters. Iraqi President Fuad Masum delivered a televised speech on Friday, urging wide participation in the vote.

FUAD MASUM IRAQI PRESIDENT "The success of the electoral process that will take place tomorrow will secure international support for our country and this is based upon the nation's support, stability and the continuity of democracy according to the constitution in order to get the confidence of regional and international friends."

But Iraqis have their concerns. Many say the ruling parties have not been able to solve the deep-rooted problems of the country.

GULALA JABAR ABDULLAH SULAIMANIYA RESIDENT "I have no desire to participate in these elections. For 27 years, we haven't seen anything from the two parties in government."

MOHAMMED ABDUL KIRKUK RESIDENT "We want to elect someone who will serve the country. Those who we elected in the past have forgotten the people even before they sat in the parliament and started to plunder people's money."

Still, voters have to cast their ballots before midnight. Out of 87 parties, the leading ones are the Victory Alliance led by incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, and the Rule of Law Alliance, led by Abadi's rival and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Also top of the Shiite camp is the Conquest Alliance headed by Hadi al-Ameri, a Shiite leader who played a key role in defeating ISIL. The Sunni group, National Alliance, is led by Vice President Ayad Allawim and the head of parliament Salim al-Juburi. The Kurdistan Democratic Party is competing against the Kurdistan Patriotic Union for the 46 seats for Kurds in Parliament.