By Haydar Hadi

BAGHDAD

Iraq’s prime minister on Tuesday rejected calls for a do-over of last month’s elections, adding that a new government should be established as soon as possible.

“The elections were held, there’s no turning back,” said Haidar al-Abadi. “We have to move forward in order to form a new government.”

Citing the weekend fire in Baghdad’s largest warehouse for ballot boxes, Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jubouri and Iyad Allawi, the leader of Iraq’s al-Wataniye coalition, have called on the government to cancel the election results and hold new polls.

“Preliminary investigations prove last week’s fire was an intentional arson attack,” al-Abadi said. Four suspects were taken into custody Monday over the fire.