IRAQ-POLITICS-VOTE

Iraqis protest against the results of parliamentary elections in the northern city of Mosul on October 14, 2021. The signs in Arabic read : "We will strike those who try to marginalise us (L)" and "The non-independent commission stole the votes of the people overnight (R)". - War-scarred Iraq -- an oil-rich country plagued by corruption and poverty -- on October 10 held its fifth parliamentary elections since the 2003 US-led invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. Sadr, a Shiite Muslim preacher who once commanded an anti-US militia, had campaigned as a nationalist and criticised the influence of big neighbour Iran, which has grown strongly since Saddam's fall. (Photo by Zaid AL-OBEIDI / AFP) (Photo by ZAID AL-OBEIDI/AFP via Getty Images)