Violations mar elections – network

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi election information network, Iraqi Ein, said that violations marred the electoral process in Baghdad, Mosul and Diala, according to a member of the network. “In its first report about the election, the network demonstrated violations that took place during the early hours of the provincial election in Iraq on Saturday,” Saeed al-Batati told IraqiNews.com news agency. “Some of the violations occurred before and after the beginning of election, such as the late opening of some polling centers- 30 minutes after 07:00 am,” he said. “Some of the centers used voting pens that were not provided by the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC),” he added. “Some polling centers were moved to others, such as two centers in Baghdad and Diala, without knowing the reasons, a matter that disturbed voters,” he noted. “Military forces in Mosul, specifically servicemen of the 3rd division, interfered by preventing Ninewa’s families from entering electoral centers by force,” he explained. He referred to the presence of electoral ads at polling centers, and that unauthorized elements interfered when there was an attempt to remove the ads. Al-Batati pointed out the police forces in Karbala arrested two persons who were campaigning for candidates inside a polling center. MH (S) / SS 1