Millions of Iraqis are pinning their hopes on the country's elections, but will their hopes be dashed as in the past?

Almost seven years on from the US-led invasion of the country and the fall of Saddam Hussein, many Iraqis now have a clearer picture of the sort of leaders and politicians they want.

Critics are predicting a landslide win for Iyad Allawi, the country's former prime minister, believing that many have grown disillusioned with the government of Nouri al-Maliki, the current prime minister.

The key concern for most Iraqis is whether this decisive election will improve their fortunes and bring an end to government corruption.

To discuss this, Inside Iraq is joined by Ismael Zayer, the editor-in-chief of Iraq's New Sabah newspaper, Michael Rubin, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, and Sami Ramadani from the London Metropolitan University.

This episode of Inside Iraq aired from Friday, March 5, 2010.