Iraqi Parliament approves May 12 as date for elections

Baghdad, Jan 22 (IANS) The Iraqi Parliament on Monday approved May 12 as the date for holding general elections, the state TV reported.

The decision came after Iraq's federal court ruled that it was not possible to delay the elections, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The Council of Representatives (the Parliament) has voted unanimously to hold the elections on May 12 as set before by the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet) and the Electoral Commission," the state-run Iraqiya channel quoted Abbas al-Baiyaty, a lawmaker from the Iraqi National Alliance, as saying.

The country's previous general elections were held on April 30, 2014 when Iraqis elected 328 lawmakers for the Parliament, which in turn elected Haider al-Abadi as Prime Minister to form the government.

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