Erbil Asayish warns against celebratory gunfire
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Erbil security forces (Asayish), warned residents on Sunday to refrain from celebratory shooting as voting for the region’s parliamentary elections draws close to an end.
"Gunfire is completely prohibited, and legal procedures will be taken against violators, and they will be arrested," read the statement.
It also called on everyone to "preserve" the stability of the city.
After the polls close, the supporters of political parties often take to the streets to celebrate the "victory" of their parties ahead of official results. The celebrations sometimes include gunfire.
The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) plans to announce the official results within 24 hours.
“After the polls close, the results will be sent to the servers of the [IHEC’s] national office in Baghdad. And the results need to be announced within 24 hours, and we hope we can announce them earlier,” Omar Ahmed, head of the IHEC, told journalists in Erbil.
A total of 1,191 candidates are contesting the 100-seat legislature, downsized from 111 seats following a major Iraqi federal court ruling in February.
About 2.9 million residents across the Kurdistan Region are registered to vote, and over 1,200 polling stations are open.
The polls opened at 7:00 am and will close at 6:00 pm.
"Gunfire is completely prohibited, and legal procedures will be taken against violators, and they will be arrested," read the statement.
It also called on everyone to "preserve" the stability of the city.
After the polls close, the supporters of political parties often take to the streets to celebrate the "victory" of their parties ahead of official results. The celebrations sometimes include gunfire.
The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) plans to announce the official results within 24 hours.
“After the polls close, the results will be sent to the servers of the [IHEC’s] national office in Baghdad. And the results need to be announced within 24 hours, and we hope we can announce them earlier,” Omar Ahmed, head of the IHEC, told journalists in Erbil.
A total of 1,191 candidates are contesting the 100-seat legislature, downsized from 111 seats following a major Iraqi federal court ruling in February.
About 2.9 million residents across the Kurdistan Region are registered to vote, and over 1,200 polling stations are open.
The polls opened at 7:00 am and will close at 6:00 pm.