Iraq's landmark elections in pictures

Iraqis are hoping that the vote can lock in a fragile peace, roughly five months after the nation declared victory over Daesh. But the war-torn country faces the mammoth task of reconstruction, while Daesh continues to pose a major security threat.

A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard as people queue in front of a polling station in the Wadi Hajar district of Mosul on May 12, 2018.
AFP

A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard as people queue in front of a polling station in the Wadi Hajar district of Mosul on May 12, 2018.

Iraqis go to polls as the country votes on Saturday in the first parliamentary election since declaring victory over Daesh.

AFP

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi having his biometric voting card checked with his fingerprint upon arriving at a polling station in the capital Baghdad's Karrada district on May 12, 2018.

AFP

Polling stations opened at 7 am for the roughly 24.5 million registered voters to cast their ballots across the conflict-scarred nation.

AFP

Around 940,000 soldiers and police officials were allowed to cast their early vote on Thursday so that they can provide security during the polling day on Saturday.

AFP

Members of the Iraqi security forces stand guard as people queue in front of a polling station in the Wadi Hajar district of Mosul on May 12, 2018.

AFP

Iraqi men flash the "v" sign for victory outside a polling station in the city of Mosul on May 12, 2018.

AFP

An Iraqi woman shows her ink-stained index finger after casting her vote at a polling station in the city of Mosul on May 12, 2018.

AFP

Iraqi women queue at a polling station in the Wadi Hajar district of Mosul on May 12, 2018.

AFP

An Iraqi voter has his biometric voting card checked with his fingerprint upon arriving at a poll station in the northern multi-ethnic city of Kirkuk on May 12, 2018.

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