Election voting starts in Iraq

Most of the persons eligible to vote in the elections, tolled 15 million, will cast their voted tomorrow, however, voting is open today for the soldiers, policemen and patients in hospitals and non-convicted detainees in crimes.

Officials said that the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who has been tried in the so-called al-Dajil case, has the right to vote, but it is not clear whether he will do so or not.

Today voting operations will start for two days for the Iraqis outside Iraq, tolled 1.5 million, in ballot centers distributed on 15 countries including the USA, Canada and Australia.

The Interim Iraqi government took security measures in order to ensure the process of this political operation. It was decided to close the borders and the airports and to stop official work for six days as from Monday.

It was also decided to stop the traffic movement between Baghdad and the governorates. Measures will be tightened gradually. On Wednesday curfew will be imposed during night time and cars will be banned, according to recommendations of the independent higher commission for the elections in Iraq.