805 international observers to monitor elections- IHEC

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A total of 805 international observers have arrived in Iraq from the United States, Britain, the European Union and the Arab League to monitor provincial elections, which are currently taking place in 14 out of Iraq’s 18 provinces. “The observers have been allowed to select the polling centers without any interference from the commission,” a media source from the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) told IraqiNews.com news agency. Voters 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 will participate in this election, according to the 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). SS (P) 1