Kazimi directs Iraqi security to complete ballot-box protection tasks

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazimi on Tuesday instructed security leaders to complete their duties in protecting ballot boxes and electoral commission stores.

According to a statement issued by al-Kazimi’s office, the Iraqi prime minister “visited the Joint Operations Command today and was briefed on the progress of security measures taken to protect the electoral commission’s stores and ballot boxes.”

“The security plan was a success, and all the necessary precautions were taken during the electoral process, which was held for the first time without imposing a curfew,” he said.

The Independent High Electoral Commission in Iraq started receiving applications Tuesday to challenge the preliminary results of the parliamentary election.

The Electoral Tribunal is scheduled to rule on the appeal within a maximum period of 10 days.

The Independent High Electoral Commission announced early results of the parliamentary election on Sunday.

Preliminary figures showed that the Sadrist movement led by Moqtada Al-Sadr, which is ahead of all the competing lists, obtained 73 seats in the new Iraqi parliament, which consists of 329 deputies.

The Taqaddum (Progress) Alliance, led by Mohamed Al-Halbousi, the dissolved Parliament Speaker, came second with 41 seats, followed by the State of Law Coalition led by Nouri Al-Maliki with 37 seats.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party won 32 seats, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan 15, Khamis al-Khanjar’s Azm 20, and Fatah 14.

The results of the Iraqi legislative elections sparked anger among Iran’s loyal forces after their chances dropped and some of their arms went empty.

The early elections of October marked a reversal of the political balances that prevailed throughout the years following 2003.