Brandishing banners and Iraqi flags, the non-partisan protesters streamed into west Baghdad's al-Nusoor square, demanding a complete political overhaul. Demonstrators shouted the Arab Spring slogan: "The people want the fall of the regime."

Supporters of cleric and political kingmaker Moqtada Sadr are pitted against Shiite opponents from a pro-Iran faction called the Coordination Framework.

Nuri al-Maliki said, "Neither the dissolution of parliament nor the change of the regime nor early elections will be possible without the resumption of parliamentary sessions."

The storming of Iraq's parliament by hundreds of supporters of populist Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr has piled pressure on his political opponents working to form a government nearly 10 months after an election.

Sunday saw the swearing-in of 329 members of the unicameral parliament and the re-election of influential Sunni MP Mohammed al-Halbussi as speaker.

A final tally from the ballot, organised to appease youth-led anti-government protests that began in 2019, is expected in the next few weeks, but so far no bloc has a clear mandate.That means the numerous political parties will engage in lengthy negotiations to form alliances and name a new prime...

Firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr may be Iraq's big election winner but he will still have to haggle with his opponents, linked to armed pro-Iranian groups, to forge a new government. 

Security measures meant to ensure a smooth and safe voting remained largely successful, as only 75 complaints during public voting and 16 complaints from the special voting of security forces were reported. The voter turnout was lower than expected, at 41 percent among the public voting and 69 percent for...

The country is emerging from almost two decades of conflict and insurgency since the 2003 US-led invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.