Maliki: Ballot boxes are witnessing massive turnout

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on Saturday that the ballot boxes are witnessing a massive turnout, a matter that reflects confidence in the country’s democratic practices. “This day is one of pleasure for all Iraqis because they, through their participation in the voting, can practice their right within the country’s general context and in accordance with the constitution,” Maliki was quoted in a statement issued by his office and received by IraqiNews.com news agency. Maliki has given the statements after casting his vote in the Elaf election center in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. “These elections should offer the citizens opportunities for a decent life on the grounds that the provincial councils, in their upcoming session, will have wide-scale powers in the process of reconstruction and service providing,” the Iraqi premier added. Voting centers in Baghdad and other 13 provinces started at 07:00 a.m. Baghdad local time to receive eligible voters who are electing their candidates to occupy all 440 seats in local councils amidst blanket security measures. Maliki called on Iraqis to show “utmost discipline and commitment to instructions given by the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and to practice their voting rights in the correct way”, and on security agencies to be “highly alert to provide the necessary protection for voting stations and the electorate”. AmR (S) 1