Iraq PM: ‘Dangerous violations’ found in last month’s vote

During his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the commission found “widespread manipulation” and faulted election authorities for “not taking the needed measures or taking wrong ones.”(Photo: Haider Al-Abadi/Facebook)

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s prime minister says a commission looking into alleged irregularities in last month’s national elections has found “dangerous violations,” a development that could prolong the process of forming a new government.

During his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the commission found “widespread manipulation” and faulted election authorities for “not taking the needed measures or taking wrong ones.”

He says the Cabinet approved the recommendations of the commission, which includes the heads of five security and oversight agencies as well as the head of an anti-corruption agency. Those include a manual recount of at least 5 per cent of ballots and annulling all votes from overseas and displaced voters.

Al-Abadi called for criminal investigations, and banned election officials from travelling abroad without his approval.