Palestinian vote showdown opens
Palestinians have begun casting their votes in the first parliamentary election to be held for a decade.
The governing Fatah party faces a strong challenge from the militant Islamic group Hamas, which is fielding candidates for the first time.
Israel and the US have said they will not work with a government that includes Hamas members.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has urged people to vote and ordered the security forces to prevent disruption.
The election run-up has been marred by violence but the main militant groups have said they will ensure calm.
Some 13,000 Palestinian policemen and security personnel have been deployed to protect polling stations on Wednesday.
Nearly 1.5m Palestinians are eligible to vote at about 1,000 centres in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which opened at 0700 (0500 GMT). Some will also cast their ballot in occupied East Jerusalem.
This great day will be of historic significance, a decisive step on the road to freedom and independence 
Mahmoud Abbas
