Supporters of parties and factions opposed to the results of the parliamentary elections continue their sit-in near the Green Zone in central Baghdad for the fifth day in a row.

For its part, the Popular Mobilization Authority expressed its commitment to the law and the protection of the country, while emphasizing its objection to the election results.

The protesters are calling for a manual recount of votes for the legislative elections that took place on the tenth of this month, and to hold accountable those they described as tampering with the election results, and to refer them to the judiciary.

On Friday, tribal sheikhs from the central and southern governorates demanded, in a press conference in the sit-in square in Baghdad, the re-run of the elections, and stressed the continuation of the protests until their demands are met.


The objectors' demand

Al-Jazeera correspondent in Baghdad, Samer Youssef, said that the sit-ins near one of the heavily fortified Green Zone gates insist on a main demand, which is the recounting and sorting of votes manually throughout Iraq, and leaders in the coordinating framework - which brings together all Shiite forces except the Sadrist movement - say that 20% Of the polling stations across Iraq, their votes were not counted, and counting them will change the results of the polls and the distribution of seats to the competing parties.

The sit-in entered its fifth day amid expectations that additional numbers would flock to Al-Hassanin Square in Baghdad, where tents are spread and slogans calling for manual recounting and sorting are raised.

Opposing forces had warned last week that proceeding with these results would threaten civil peace in the country, which raised fears of a possible outbreak of internal fighting.

Al-Fayyad: The function of the PMF is to protect the security and stability of Iraq (Al-Jazeera)

The popular crowd

In a related context, the head of the Popular Mobilization Authority, Faleh al-Fayyad, said that his forces are essential to protecting what he described as the democratic system in Iraq.

Al-Fayyad's speech came during a meeting held yesterday, Friday, in the presence of the PMF chief of staff and directors of the directorates, to review the most prominent developments in the country following the dispute over the results of the parliamentary elections.

Al-Fayyad stressed that the function of the PMF is to protect the security and stability of Iraq along with the security forces, pointing out that the PMF is committed to the law and the constitution and does not interfere in political discussions.

"We are with the legal frameworks to object to the elections, and our work in politics is one thing, and our work in the mobilization is another," he said.

A poster put up by supporters of the protesters against the election results bears a distorted image of "Plasschaert" (Reuters)

Security Council

Regarding the Iraqi elections, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all Iraqi parties to be patient and adhere to the electoral timetable.

For its part, the UN Security Council stressed the need to establish an inclusive government in Iraq, and to resolve disputes related to the elections legally.

The council added in a statement that the elections took place smoothly, and were better prepared technically and technically than the previous ones.

The Council condemned the accusations against the United Nations Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and the Iraqi Electoral Commission.

Following the announcement of the preliminary results of the Iraqi elections, which were mainly monitored by the United Nations mission, the mission and its head, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, received widespread criticism and threats from parties and parties that lost in the elections.