Security tight as Iraqis vote for new parliament

President Barham Salih and Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi urged Iraqis to vote amid widespread apathy and scepticism from many

Iraqis queue to cast their votes at a polling station in the country’s parliamentary elections in Baghdad. Picture: Hadi Mizban/AP

Iraq closed its airspace and land border crossings on Sunday as voters headed to the polls to elect a parliament that many hope will deliver much-needed reforms after decades of conflict and mismanagement.

The elections were scheduled to be held next year but were brought forward in response to a popular uprising in the capital, Baghdad, and southern provinces in late 2019.