ABU DHABI/ DUBAI -- The first day of polling by Iraqi expatriates in the UAE saw nearly 5000 Iraqi voters cast votes peacefully, in contrast to the atmosphere in their home country where Al Qaeda-linked attacks have sought to derail the process.The Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq (IHCEI) is geared to receive 75,000 Iraqis from across the UAE to choose from 6,000 candidates for the 365-member Iraqi parliament, IHCEI Bureau Director Odai Al Taie told Khaleej Times.
The voting shall remain open till Sunday from 8am to 6pm at the Iraqi embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Dubai International Airport Exhibition Centre. The commission expects to send by Thursday the ballot boxes to Baghdad. A similar procedure is being followed in other countries too.
An estimated 1.4 million Iraqis from the war-wracked nation's large diaspora are located in 80 cities of 16 countries.
Brigadier Khalil Ibrhaim Al Mansouri, Director of General Department of Criminal invesitgation, said that the Dubai Police had put in place a foolproof seucurity plan to ensure smooth conduct and safety. The General Deparment of Emergency had assigned 20 police hard-task and riots team to stand in readiness. Nothing untoward was reported.
Security outside the centres were tight with police keeping a close watch on the voters. Some eager youngsters were seen waving flags, while others posed for the camera with their ink-stained fingers.