Iraq delays elections to October 10

Iraq's cabinet has decided to delay the country's parliamentary elections until October 10, following a recommendation by the electoral commission.

The elections, which were scheduled to be held in June, are still being held early, as the current parliament's term officially ends in 2022.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi had vowed to hold early elections to appease protesters who since October 2019 have called for the dissolution of parliament and an overhaul of the country's political system, which has been in place since the 2003 US-led invasion.

The announcement comes one day after the electoral commission proposed the four-month delay, saying it needed more time to implement the legal and logistical measures needed for holding free and fair elections.