Special voting begins in Iraq

Voting has begun in Iraq's parliamentary elections with security forces, hospital patients and prisoners casting their ballots ahead of polling day at the weekend.

Police stepped up security measures in the capital Baghdad as the initial round of voting began on Thursday morning.

The heightened security measures were part of an overall security plan aimed at protecting the city from attacks during the elections.

The decision to take extra security precautions was not unexpected as there has been a surge in violence across the country ahead of the legislative polls.

Election organizers predict that up to 800,000 people, who will not be able to reach polling stations on March 7, will participate in the early voting session.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=120031§ionid=351020201.