Polls opened across Iraq on Saturday in the first national election since the declaration of victory over the Islamic State group. Iraqis go to the polls in first elections since victory over ISAfter hours of low voter turnout, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi partially lifted a security curfew to encourage more people to come to the polls. Iraq Elections In central Baghdad, voters supporting Mr al-Abadi said they were doing so because they give him credit for Iraq’s military victory over IS. Iraq Elections With support from the US-led coalition and Iran, Mr al-Abadi oversaw a gruelling war against the extremists and declared victory over the group in December. Iraq Elections In total there are 329 parliament seats at stake, with nearly 7,000 candidates from dozens of political alliances.

Source: Irish Independent May 12, 2018 09:33 UTC