A fire broke out on Sunday in the biggest ballot warehouse in Iraq ahead of a recount of last month’s parliamentary elections vote. A senior security official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the fire broke out in a warehouse located in Al-Russafa, one of the largest voting districts in eastern Baghdad. A column of black smoke billowed from the warehouse, normally used to store foodstuff, and could be seen across the capital. Around 60 percent of Baghdads two million eligible voters had cast their ballots in the May election in Al-Russafa district. Two hours after the blaze erupted firefighters, backed by 10 trucks, were still struggling to put out the fire as warehouse staff ran out of the building carrying blue and white plastic ballot boxes, an AFP reporter said. Authorities did not say whether they believe the fire was an accident or had been set, but its timing heightened tensions over the election. The recount was prompted by allegations of fraud during the elections that saw a surprise victory for the head of the Sadrist movement, Moqtada al-Sadr. The result was contested following allegations of fraud namely by the veteran politicians led by parliamentary Speaker Salim al-Jabouri. The recount was ordered by parliament on Wednesday at all polling stations, although no timetable has been announced. According to intelligence services, tests of electronic voting machines -- used for the first time in Iraqi elections -- produced varied results, appearing to give credence to the fraud claims. An electoral commission official and a spokesman for the interior ministry suggested that Sundays fire did not damage ballot boxes. "The room where voting machines and other election equipment were stored was destroyed by the fire," Imed Jamil, an electoral commission official for Al-Russafa, told AFP. "The ballot boxes were stored in another room," he said, adding that the fire would not affect the recount. Interior ministry spokesman General Saad Maan echoed him during a visit to the scene to the warehouse where the blaze was raging. "Election material, including maybe ballot boxes, were burned but most of the ballot boxes were stored in another building and have been preserved," Maan told reporters. The law mandating a manual recount also mandated the board of the election commission be replaced by judges. Earlier on Sunday, the Supreme Judicial Council, Iraq’s highest judicial authority, named the judges who will take over replace the commissioners. The council also named judges to replace the commission’s local chiefs in each of Iraq’s 18 provinces, another measure mandated by parliament. The board of commissioners has said it would appeal against the law forcing the recount.