PM has nothing to do with IHEC – official

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has nothing to do with the work of the Independent High Electoral Commission, according to the IHEC chief on Thursday said. “Maliki’s influence is confined to the election security committee on the grounds that the premier is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces,” Faraj al-Hayderi told IraqiNews.com news agency. “Maliki follows up and coordinates with the election security committee,” he added. “The premier facilitated some issues for the IHEC related to contracting but he has never interfered in the Commission’s work,” al-Hayderi said. “Neither the premier nor anyone else has the right to interfere in the elections or the Commission’s work,” he noted. MH (P)/AmR 1