Iraq's supreme court rules against election delay
Iraq's Supreme Federal Court on Sunday ruled against calls by Sunni and Kurdish lawmakers to delay a parliamentary election, expected to be called for May, to allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced by war to return home.
Shi'ite politicians, including Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, argued delaying the election would be unconstitutional.
The election must be held "within the timeframe provided by the constitution," the court said in a statement.
Parliament is expected to meet on Monday to validate May 12 as the date for the ballot, as suggested by the government, or agree another date in May.
Abadi is seeking re-election, building on a surge in his popularity among Iraq's majority Shi'ite Arab community after leading the three-year fight against Islamic State militants, supported by a US-led coalition.
