Iraqi expatriates are voting today for country's Parliamentary elections under early voting scheme in 80 cities across 16 countries and the process will continue until Sunday. Iraq's electoral commission says 14 lakh people are eligible to vote abroad.<br/><br/>In the country, early voting began yesterday with participation of 6 lakh voters . According to Iraq’s head of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), the Early voters in the country include detainees, hospital patients and military and security personnel who will be working on election day.<br/><br/>General voting for the Parliament will take place on 7th of this month. Almost 1 crore 90 lakh Iraqis are eligible to vote at 10 thousand polling stations around the country. Six thousand two hundred ( 6200) candidates are contesting for the 325 seats in parliament. Security is a major concern in this election as insurgent groups have threatened to disrupt the polls. More than 200,000 security officers will be on duty in Baghdad.<br/><br/>Meanwhile 12 people were killed and 57 others injured in three attacks near polling stations in the Iraqi capital Baghdad yesterday . Voice of Iraq news agency quoting official spokesperson of the Baghdad Operations Command Gen. Qassim Atta has reported that a curfew will be imposed on Baghdad from tomorrow night as a preparation for the election day . ‘All airports and border points will also be closed.<br/>
News On AIR | March 5, 2010 8:05 PM
Voting underway in Iraq