Ruling parties claim victory in Iraq’s Kirkuk, Dohuk

By Amer al-Hassani

BAGHDAD (AA) - Iraq’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) won parliamentary polls in Kirkuk while Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) secured northern Iraq’s Dohuk, the country’s election commission said on Tuesday.

In a statement, Independent High Electoral Commission announced initial results of the parliamentary elections in 18 Iraqi provinces.

Arab and Turkmen officials alleged that the Kurdish parties rigged the results by programing the electronic voting devices.

On Saturday, Iraqis voted in the country’s first parliamentary election since Iraq declared victory against the Daesh terrorist group, and the fourth since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

According to the election commission, around 10.8 million Iraqis out of 24 million eligible voters took part in the vote, with a turnout of 44.52 percent.

The polls were held under the shadow of economic crisis, the return of thousands of refugees, political polarization, and security concerns.