Iraqi expatriates cast their votes

Iraqi expatriates vote for their favorite candidates as the violence-weary nation braces for its key weekend parliamentary election scheduled for the.

An estimated 1.4 million Iraqis from the war-stricken nation's large Diaspora rushed on Friday to polling stations in 80 cities in 16 different countries.

More than 6,200 candidates from six major coalitions and several other tribal and minority groups are vying for the 325 seats in the Council of Representatives.

Friday also marked the last of a three-week campaign for the long-delayed parliamentary poll, the second since US-led troops invaded the country in 2003.

Despite the tight security measures taken by Baghdad officials to ensure a transparent election, the event is overshadowed by threats from militants who have vowed to mar the vote.

There have also been allegations of efforts to buy votes by Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia, which Iraq has been accusing of financing extremist Wahhabi groups and terrorists in its predominantly Shia neighbor.

Further shadowing the election are fears that possible tensions on the heels of the poll could elongate the stay of thousands of US troops who are to leave the country by the end of 2011.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=120109§ionid=351020201.