(MENAFN) Iraq’s top security authorities announced Wednesday that the nationwide security operation for this week’s parliamentary elections was carried out smoothly, reporting only minor incidents that were swiftly contained.

More than 12 million Iraqis voted on Tuesday to elect members of the country’s 329-seat parliament, according to official figures.

At a press conference in Baghdad, Lieutenant General Qais al-Muhammadawi, head of Iraq’s Supreme Committee for Election Security, said Iraqi forces had “succeeded in securing the polls.”

“Minor violations were recorded during the vote and were addressed,” he added.

“Security forces did not interfere with the voting process,” Muhammadawi stressed.

He also confirmed that the gunmen involved in the killing of two police officers in Kirkuk, northern Iraq, had been arrested.

Meanwhile, the Independent High Electoral Commission reaffirmed that the announcement of election results would proceed on schedule. The commission said 48 complaints had been filed — 39 concerning Sunday’s special voting and nine related to Tuesday’s general election.

Preliminary results are expected within 24 hours of the vote, with final confirmation following a review of appeals.

In total, 7,743 candidates, including 2,247 women, competed for parliamentary seats.

Iraq’s current legislature, which began its term on January 9, 2022, runs for four years. Under national law, parliamentary elections must be conducted at least 45 days before the end of the sitting term.

Shia political factions continue to dominate the assembly. By long-standing convention, Iraq’s key offices are divided along sectarian and ethnic lines — the presidency for Kurds, the premiership for Shias, and the parliament speakership for Sunnis.

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