Between 1958 and 2003 Iraq was ruled by multiple dictatorships, socialist, Arabist then Ba'athist under the regime of Ahmed Hassan Al Bakr, who came to power in 1968, then Saddam Hussein in 1979.
The multinational force's 2003 invasion of Iraq overthrew Saddam's government and installed an interim administration.
Opponents of the occupation, such as the various insurgent groups, claimed the elections were not free and fair, citing flaws in the process.
The UN adviser to Iraq's election commission Craig Jenness said the complaints were not significant; "I don't see anything that would necessitate a rerun....
Second: The new Council of Representatives shall be elected forty-five days before the conclusion of the preceding electoral term.