Iraqi parliament postpones election date

BAGHDAD: Iraq’s parliament failed on Saturday to approve May 12 as the election date, as suggested by the government, as Sunni and Kurdish lawmakers demanded a delay to allow hundreds of thousands of war-displaced people to return home.

Politicians, including Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, insist on holding the election as planned on May 12, saying a delay would be against the constitution.

Speaking after Saturday’s session in Baghdad, Parliamentary Speaker Salim al-Jabouri expressed hope that parliament would be able to vote on an election date by Monday, state TV reported.

Abadi is seeking re-election, building on a surge in his popularity among Iraq’s majority Arab community after leading the three-year fight against Islamic State militants, supported by a US-led coalition.