Violation claims should be evidenced- UN envoy

ANBAR / IraqiNews.com: Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General (SRSG) in Iraq Staffan de Mistura on Saturday said that claims about the existence of violations in the current provincial elections should be backed up by evidence. “Violation claims should be supported by evidence and should be thoroughly investigated by the electoral commission with the support of the United Nations,” De Mistura said in a press release in Anbar province. The UN official said that there are nearly 490 local observers in polling centers all over the country. He also expressed his relief at the level of women’s participation in the election. “We have not noticed anything abnormal until Saturday noon, but we have to wait until the end of the day,” de Mistura added. 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 from 14 out of Iraq’s 18 provinces will participate in this election, according to the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). Security personnel, prisoners sentenced to less than five years and hospital-bound patients cast early ballots in the special voting held on Wednesday (Jan. 28). SS (S) 1