ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />STORY: Iraqis head to the polls in their first election since US forces withdrew from Iraq three years ago.<br/> <br />Voters must choose from among more than 9,000 candidates but the ballot is really being seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shi'ite Muslim who has governed for eight years.<br/> <br />He's facing criticism he's aggravating the sectarian splits as he tries to consolidate power.<br/> <br />A growing insurgency between Sunni Muslim militants and the military is tearing apart the west of the country.<br/> <br />Iraq is experiencing its worst unrest since 2008, with 160 people killed in the past week alone.<br/> <br />Security has been heightened ahead of the election, and some voters face multiple searches before being allowed into polling stations.<br/> <br />But the Prime Minister, who was among the first to vote, urged Iraqis to do the same despite the security threats.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (ARABIC) IRAQ'S PRIME MINISTER NOURI AL-MALIKI, SA
