The leader of the State of Law Coalition and former Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki, who cast his vote in Baghdad warned that “there is an attempt to increase pressure on the electorate, therefore I urge the Election Commission to intervene promptly”.

Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, cast his vote in Hewlêr (Erbil).

Iraqi Parliament President Selim Cuburi urged the Election Commission to be impartial and to fulfill its responsibilities to ensure people could exercise their right to vote in a peaceful environment.

Kubat Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, who voted at the Rewşin Bedirxan school in Sulaymaniyah, said: “Today is a historic day. I hope that in the Kurdistan Region, the people will go to the polls and exercise their right to vote. Kirkuk - he added - is a very important place and everyone should participate in the elections”.

Halabja Governor Eli Osman called on a people to participate to the elections, stressing that today's elections are important for the Kurds to increase their strength in the Iraqi Parliament.

Shengal

The Iraqi police have stopped journalists in Êzidxanê district from following the elections in Sinunê.

Duhok

In Duhok, Yezidi residents living in refugee camps denounced they have been threatened by certain parties.

Meanwhile, ISIS mercenaries have targeted the election centers in Gulala and Cebare with mortars. Three people were injured in the attack.

The Iraqi Supreme Board of Elections announced that voting will end at 6pm today and that the election results will be given within 48 hours.