ERBIL — Scores of supporters of the Fatah Alliance on Thursday announced that they reject the preliminary results of the Iraqi parliamentary elections, blocking a main road in Mosul, a security source said.
Th source in Nineveh Police said that the road linking the cities of Kurdistan Region's capital Erbil and Mosul in Bartella district, east of Mosul, was blocked with concrete barriers.
The Fatah Alliance, which is composed of supporters of the Iran-backed al-Hashd al-Shaabi has already denounced the results as "fabricated" while one armed militia faction appeared to threaten with violent actions in response.
"We do not accept these fabricated results, whatever the cost, and we will defend the votes of our candidates and voters with full force," Hadi al-Ameri, the leader of Fatah Alliance, said earlier this week, according to his office.
Ahmed Daham, an officer in Nineveh Police, told BasNews correspondent that "dozens of militia members and supporters of a candidate affiliated with the Al-Fatah Alliance blocked the main road between Mosul and Erbil with checkpoints in Bartella district, east of Mosul, in protest against the election results in which they lost."
Hundreds of Al-Fateh supporters also organized a vigil in Tal Afar district, west of Mosul, and Nineveh Police told BasNews correspondent that "more than 200 [Al-Fatah] supporters organized a protest against the results of the parliamentary elections," adding that they demanded a manual recount of the results.
The Fatah Alliance was the second-largest party before it declined sharply from 48 to 14 seats after Sunday's parliamentary election was held.
Only one day after the preliminary results were announced by the electoral commission, a spokesperson for Kataib Hezbollah, an armed Iran-backed group labelled a "terrorist organisation" by the US, called on their supporters to oppose the results and warned they would "stand firmly and insist to restore things to their rightful place," as Kataib Hezbollah'z Huquq party has won only one seat.
"Be sure that no right will be lost behind it, so do not get tired, do not get bored, and do not compromise, and victory will be your ally with the help of Almighty God."