Iraq goes to the polls amidst tight security

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqis have been heading to polling stations in Baghdad and 13 other Iraqi provinces since 07:00 a.m. Saturday to elect their representatives in the country’s provincial councils amidst tight security measures. Over 15 million voters from 14 out of Iraq’s 18 provinces will participate in this election, according to the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). Security personnel, prisoners sentenced to less than five years and hospital inmates cast their votes in the special voting, held on Wednesday (Jan. 28). A curfew has been imposed on the Iraqi capital, as well as a number of Iraqi provinces, as of 10:00 p.m. yesterday (Jan. 30), with security forces blocking all border outlets with neighboring countries and stopping all flights. SS (P) 1