BAGHDAD: A fire ripped through Iraq’s biggest ballot warehouse on Sunday ahead of a vote recount prompted by allegations of fraud during legislative elections that saw a surprise victory for a populist cleric.

Around 60 per cent of Baghdad’s two million eligible voters had cast their ballots in the May election in Al-Russafa district where the warehouse is located.

Two hours after the blaze erupted firefighters, backed by 10 trucks, were still struggling to put out the fire as warehouse staff ran out of the building carrying blue and white plastic ballot boxes, an AFP reporter said. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.

It comes as Iraq prepares for a manual recount of around 10 million votes, following allegations of fraud during the May 12 legislative polls.

The vote was won by populist Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr’s electoral alliance with communists, with long-time political figures pushed out by Iraqis voters hoping for change in a country mired in conflict and corruption.

But the result was contested following allegations of fraud namely by the veteran politicians led by parliamentary speaker Salim al-Juburi. The recount was ordered by parliament on Wednesday at all polling stations, although no timetable has been announced.

According to intelligence services, tests of electronic voting machines — used for the first time in Iraqi elections — produced varied results, appearing to give credence to the fraud claims.

An electoral commission official and a spokesman for the interior ministry suggested that Sunday’s fire did not damage ballot boxes.

“The room where voting machines and other election equipment were stored was destroyed by the fire,” said Imed Jamil, an electoral commission official for Al-Russafa.

“The ballot boxes were stored in another room,” he said, adding that the fire would not affect the recount.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2018