Region | Iraq
Voting begins in hospitals and jails
Patients, soldiers and prisoners began voting yesterday in parliamentary elections, a few days ahead of the general population.
- AP
- Published: 23:31 May 3, 2009
Baghdad: Patients, soldiers and prisoners began voting yesterday in parliamentary elections, a few days ahead of the general population.
To prevent militants from disrupting Thursday's main balloting, the government said it will close its borders, extend a nighttime curfew and restrict domestic travel starting Tuesday.
In a development that could impact the general election, 13 prisoners who were apparent victims of abuse were discovered at an overcrowded detention centre run by the Interior Ministry, Iraqi and US military officials said.
Prime Minister Ebrahim Al Jaafari ordered an investigation into what he described as an "unhealthy phenomenon." A similar case surfaced last month.
Committee
"There is a committee following the case. My military adviser is touring all of Iraq's jails to know if there are such cases," Al Jaafari said during a news conference.
"I will not allow such dealing with any prisoner."
Police also said a businessman and his 23-year-old son were kidnapped in Baghdad's upscale Mansour district.
Yesterday's early voting saw the first of 1,500 patients cast ballots at Baghdad's central Yarmouk hospital, election officials said.
"The election process is running very well," said Yousuf Ebrahim, director of the election centre. "There is a big hall for patients who can easily walk and the election committee moves a box around to the wards where there are patients who can't leave their beds."
It was not be the only early voting ahead of general elections.
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