Baghdad: Iraq's electoral commission said on Sunday it is investigating allegations that nearly 60 candidates for provincial elections on January 31 submitted fraudulent qualification certificates.

Commission chief Faraj al-Haidari said that his commission is for the ministries of Education and Higher Education to verify the certificates before excluding candidates.

The law requires candidates to have certain educational qualifications.

Voters will choose members of ruling councils in 14 of the 18 provinces. More than 14,000 candidates are running for 444 council seats.