So in November 2011, Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission approved 276 political entities to run in the elections, including a number of coalitions.

As members of the security forces voted on Monday 28 April, six different polling stations were hit by suicide bombers, leading to at least 27 deaths.

Insurgent group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria has threatened violence against Sunni Muslims who vote in the election.

The first session of the new parliament began on 1 July where all 328 members took oath to carry out their legal tasks and responsibilities devotedly and honestly and preserve the independence and sovereignty of Iraq, and safeguard the interests of its people.

This didn't happen as some Kurdish and Sunni Arab MPs boycotted the session causing a lack of quorum since they did not agree on a single candidate.