Iraqis vote in general election at a crucial regional moment

Low voter turnout in many areas reflects apathy and scepticism

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

Iraq, which has long been a fertile land for proxy wars, has only recently regained a sense of stability, as it 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, mismanagement and endemic corruption.

Voters see it as a sham