Iraqis vote in general poll in rare moment of calm

Iraqis began voting for a new parliament on Tuesday at a pivotal time for the country and the wider region, in an election that both Iran and the United States will be closely watching.

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Iraq has been unusually stable in recent years, as the nation tries to move past decades of war since the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

But even now, the country of 46 million people suffers from poor infrastructure, failing public services and endemic corruption.

Many have lost hope that elections can bring meaningful change to their daily lives and see the vote as a sham that only benefits political elites and regional powers.

Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (0400 GMT) and close at 6:00 pm (1500 GMT), with preliminary results expected within 24 hours of closing.

Just minutes after the polls opened, several senior politicians voted at the luxurious Al-Rasheed hotel in the capital, Baghdad.