Counting of votes has begun in Iraq's Parliamentary elections. Election officials say it could take several days for preliminary results to be released. Heavy turnout was reported in yesterday's elections. But the vote was marred by violence as a series of explosions left at least 38 people dead and 89 others wounded.<br/><br/>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.