Voting in Iraq amidst delays and attacks

Some polling stations have not opened and ISIS attacked villages in Iraq.

Polls have opened this morning at 7am in Iraq and people have begun to vote for the new Parliament.

In Kirkuk, one of the controversial region, voting at 6 polling stations were delayed. Eleven election centres in Duhok-Zakho were not opened due to lack of the necessary equipment. The same happened in Sheladize.

In Duhok centre 2 polling stations reportedly did not open.

Although the Iraqi Supreme Electoral Commission announced on Friday that the final inspections to all electoral districts in Iraq and South Kurdistan had been made, voting at many polling stations started late or didn’t start at all. The Commission has given no explanation so far.

ISIS attacks

As it was feared, ISIS has attacked some of Khanaqin territories on Friday evening deliberately targeting voters.

According to the information received, ISIS has attacked the villages of Islah and Shaykh Bave of the town of Karatepe (Diyala) as well as the village of Ashtukani of the town of Cebare with long barrelled weapons.

The voting station was targeted in the village of Islah (Karatepe) and 3 people were reportedly wounded. The citizens of Khanaqin, who were attacked by ISIS, are of Arab and Turkmen origin.

It was reported that ISIS was heading for Kirkuk, after having attacked the village of Khanaqin, in the early hours of Saturday, but security forces thwarted the attack.