Al-Kadhimi calls the armed forces to be "neutral" in the polling day
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi directed the armed forces to be "neutral" during the electoral process.
The spokesperson for the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, Major General Yahya Rasool, held a joint press conference with the media directors of federal police and Baghdad operations
The PM Mustafa Al-Kadhimi directed all security forces to remain neutral and not be with any part in the elections.
Concerning securing the electoral process, Rasool added, "There is high-level coordination between the security services and the High Electoral Commission (IHEC). As a result, the movement of citizens is normal, and there is no curfew."
For his part, the Federal Police director confirmed the cooperation with the Electoral Commission.
In turn, Baghdad Operations Command said that its forces have provided all the necessary protection for all electoral centers."
Earlier today, the Iraqi Minister of Interior, Othman Al-Ghanmi, told Shafaq News Agency, "the security plan includes all challenges that could face the electoral centers," noting that all formations of security forces are participating in implementing these plans.
He added, "We did not record any security breach yesterday," stressing that "the security plans succeeded in the millions' visit (Arbaeen) as well as in the special polling, and they will succeed in the public polling. So, this is a message of reassurance and safety for the Iraqi people."
The Minister called the citizens for "a serious stand for reforming a strong government," adding, "all roads are open, and all mechanisms are available for the movement of voters, and there is no curfew."
Iraqis started on Sunday voting in a general election, their fifth legislative elections since the fall of the regime of late President Saddam Hussein at the hands of US forces and their allies in 2003.
Several months early, the election was held under a new law designed to help independent candidates - a response to mass anti-government protests two years ago.
Polling stations scattered across the country opened their doors at 7:00 local time to voters amid international supervision and strict security measures, as 23 million voters are eligible to vote to select 329 candidates for the parliamentary session, in which 57,834 polling stations were included.
