By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has announced a major security plan to ensure the smooth-running of the municipal elections, due in October.
The plan is likely to provide for slating an electoral day for each governorate rather than holding the elections nationwide in one day, Al-Maliki said in a televised meeting with leaders of the southern governorate of Basra Monday.
Large numbers of the armed forces will be deployed in each governorate during its electoral day to maintain security and prevent any armed displays or attempts to intimidate voters, he pointed out.
The Iraqi parliament passed the new election law and decided to hold the municipal elections in October in cooperation with the UN office in Baghdad. This is first time for the Iraqi authorities to hold the elections in the governorates in different days to prevent unrest witnessed in previous elections.
Al-Maliki asserted the importance of holding “sound and fair elections in the framework of free political competition” and away from the influence of armed groups.
Meanwhile, he stressed the importance of pushing ahead with combat against all forms of corruption including the manipulation by any political party of the state properties.
Al-Maliki is now in Basra in a bid to push forward the campaign of the Iraqi security forces against the militia of Al-Mehdi Army aimed to restore the state prestige in the lawless city.