Iranians vote in parliamentary, Assembly elections

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• Millions of Iranians have cast their ballots in Parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections. The head of Iran’s election commission says the voter turnout was very high. Over 4,800 candidates sought parliamentary seats while 159 experts vied for the Assembly of Experts.
• The Russian president says the peace process in Syria will be complicated but it is the only available option. Vladimir Putin's remarks came ahead of a ceasefire in Syria. Putin also said that Daesh and other terrorist groups are not included in the ceasefire deal.
• The Syrian army liberates strategic villages from the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the northern province of Aleppo. The three villages are near the recently liberated town of Khanasar. A monitoring group says the government forces are now working to open the only road linking the city of Aleppo with central and western Syria.
• Saudi Arabia’s air force continues bombing Yemen. At least two people were killed in the latest bombardment, when Saudi jets targeted several areas of Nihm district in Sana'a. Meanwhile, sources said the Yemeni army backed by popular forces downed a Saudi helicopter in Dhubab district of Ta'izz province.
• Palestinian journalist Mohammad al-Qiq, who’s been held in an Israeli jail without charge or trial, ends his three-months-long hunger strike. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club says Qiq agreed to do so in return for his release on May 21. The 33-year-old, who was detained by Israel in November, was in life-threatening condition.
• Israeli forces have abducted at least 35 Palestinians in different parts of the West Bank as part of their crackdown on people in the occupied territories. Palestinian officials say Israeli forces stormed dozens of Palestinian homes in several villages and towns during a door-to-door search operation before abduction of residents.
• Over half a million Iraqis stage a protest in the capital Baghdad to demand government reforms. The demonstrators gathered in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, calling for economic and political reforms as well as improved public services. Iraqi top Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr addressed the protesters. He demanded greater government accountability.
• Chinese authorities have expressed concern over Australia’s decision to boost its military presence in the South China Sea. Beijing has warned Sydney against compromising the stability of the Asia-Pacific region. Australia says its 20-year plan is part of a military buildup quote-needed to maintain peace in the region.

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