Polls close in Iraq’s parliamentary election

By Amir al-Saadi

BAGHDAD

Voting has ended on Saturday in Iraq’s first parliamentary election since authorities declared victory against the Daesh terrorist group, reported state TV Al Iraqiya.

Polling stations across the country, including the capital Baghdad and northern Iraq’s Kurdish region, closed at 6:00 pm local time (1500 GMT).

Nearly 9,000 polling stations opened to voters at 7:00 am Baghdad time (4:00 GMT).

The country's Independent High Electoral Commission will announce the turnout later in the day, while unofficial results are expected to be announced in two days.

Saturday’s election saw more than 7,000 candidates compete for spots in Iraq’s 328-seat national assembly.

Roughly 24 million Iraqis out of the country’s 37-million-strong population are registered to take part in the polls.

The poll is the country’s first election since Daesh was decisively defeated late last year after overrunning much of northern and western Iraq in 2014, and is being held under the shadow of economic crisis, the return of thousands of refugees, political polarization, and security concerns.