Iraqi parliamentary elections were held on 12 May, but protests and recriminations continue to get in the way of government talks.

Most protests come from South Kurdistan, where six parties have called for a new election. Deputies from Gorran movement, Yekgirtu, Komeleya Islam, Communist Party and Islamic Movement reiterated that frauds and irregularities have been a constant feature in this election.

In this context, 43 deputies requested an urgent session of the local parliament in Hewler (Erbil) to investigate fraud.

This request follows the six parties’ demand to recount the votes. The KDP and PUK were the only parties that did not reject the results.

The Iraqi Supreme Electoral Commission announced the results after several days from the vote, despite having assured that results will be cleared within 48 hours from the vote.

An urgent session of the central Parliament was held in Baghdad at the request of 81 deputies concerned about the chaos the country could be drawn into.

Winner of the elections, the Sairoun coalition led by Shia clergy Moqtada al-Sadr and the Communist Party of Iraq, met with Nasr coalition leader and current Prime Minister al-Abadi to begin exploratory talks for the formation of a coalition government.

In the meantime on Monday an explosion has been reported in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. One person has died and the cause of the explosions is being investigated.