In Iraq, heavy turnout was reported in yesterday's Parliamentary elections. But the vote was marred by violence as a series of explosions left at least 38 people dead and 89 others wounded.The Iraq's electoral commission has urged Iraqi political parties to wait for the announcement of official results before declaring victory in the country's parliamentary polls. The chairman of the commission, Farag al-Haidary made the appeal in a news conference in Baghdad last evening as election officials began counting the ballots following the close of polls.Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama has paid tribute to the courage of Iraqis who defied threats to advance their democracy by voting in Iraq’s general election. In his first reaction to the crucial vote he said that their participation demonstrates that the Iraqi people have chosen to shape their future through the political process.