Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the country to protest the results of the elections, according to local sources.

Iraqi security forces deployed heavily around Baghdad’s Green Zone in the early hours of Friday morning.

Clashes broke out between security forces and supporters of the Popular Mobilization Forces as they try to advance their protest into Green Zone.

Parliamentary elections were held in Iraq on October 10. The biggest election gains were made by Muqtada al-Sadr, who won 73 out of 329 parliament seats.

Meanwhile, the Fatah Alliance that represents the Popular Mobilization Forces lost two-thirds of its parliament seats, dropping from 48 to around 16.

The leader of the Fatah Alliance, Hadi al-Ameri, rejected the results and warned that “we will not accept these fabricated results whatever the cost and we will defend the votes of our candidates and voters will full force”.