(Updates with vote ending, quotes) By Anis Ahmed DHAKA, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Bangladeshis voted on Monday in the first phase of local elections, the first polls organised by the country's army-backed interim government since it took power in early 2007 with a promise to restore democracy. Monday's elections were monitored by thousands of observers from Bangladesh and abroad, and their opinion is likely to be a barometer for the success of national elections later in the year. The country has been under a state of emergency since the interim government, headed by former central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed, took power in January 2007 following widespread political violence. It cancelled a national election due the same month. A successful election and smooth transition to democracy will have a strong bearing on the country's economic future, analysts say. All the candidates in Monday's polls had registered as independents because Bangladesh's election laws prevented political parties from directly contesting local councils. But after a ruling last week by the High Court, political parties will be able to field candidates during additional rounds of local polls in coming weeks to help them prepare for a national election expected in December. Voters thronged hundreds of polling stations in four city corporations and nine municipal areas after polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (0200 GMT). The voting officially closed at 4 p.m. (1000 GMT), but the Election Commission said those still waiting in line would be allowed to cast their ballot. Poll officials said around 40 percent of 1.3 million registered voters had cast their ballot by noon (0600 GMT), and the overall turnout was expected at 60 percent or more. Police detained around 10 people for violating election rules, but such incidents were negligible, a senior police officer said. "NO ANOMALIES" Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, chairman of the National Election Observation Council (a local monitoring group), added: "So far we have noticed no anomaly or breach of the codes of conduct." The elections are the first in the country's history to use a digital voter list with photographs to avoid rigging and fake voting, problems which have plagued previous ballots. "This is the first opportunity we have in many years to elect a mayor and councillors in a free and unintimidating atmosphere," said one voter In the northeastern city of Sylhet. Poll officials earlier said all measures had been taken to ensure a free, fair and peaceful local elections that would be a key pointer to a successful national vote. Chief Election Commissioner A.T.M. Shamsul Huda has dubbed the local polls a "gateway to democracy". "We will use experiences from this poll and correct any shortcomings to make the December vote more accurate," he added. Retired Brigadier-General Sakhawat Hossain, another election commissioner, said the voting process had been "a bit slow" initially because voters, polling officials and political agents were not familiar with the new process. City corporations, municipalities and other local councils enjoy sweeping powers and have a strong influence in selecting candidates for national elections. Monday's vote will be followed by a series of more local elections until October. (Additional reporting by Ruma Paul, Nizam Ahmed and Serajul Islam Quadir in Dhaka, Masud Karim in Sreepur, Enamul Haque in Khulna, Raju Ahmed in Sylhet and Aroop Talukder in Barisal)
Conjoined female twins, Borsha (L) and Banya, are seen at Bangabandhu Medical College Hospital in Dhaka July 23, 2008. The three months and 29 days old twins; Borsha means "Rain" and ...
