Violence, Strife Persist As Iraq Holds Elections

Sunni insurgents have claimed responsibility for a new series of deadly attacks apparently designed to discourage voting as Iraq holds its first parliamentary elections since U.S. troops pulled out of the country in 2011.

These violent anti-voting attacks have killed at least 160 people over the last week, the BBC reports. Sunni insurgents blame corruption, high unemployment and a rise in sectarian violence on Shi’ite party leader and current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Maliki’s alliance of Shi’ites are expected to win a majority in the election despite the violence.