BAGHDAD, May 11 (KUNA) -- Media blackout was observed throughout Iraq on Friday, one day ahead of scheduled nationwide elections.
Karim Al-Tamimi, the official spokesman of the higher electoral commission, said in a statement to KUNA that the ban on nominees' campaigns was imposed as off 7 a.m. (04:00 GMT) and would be lifted after tomorrow's voting.
He called on the contending nominees to abide by the "electoral silence," warning that offenders would face legal action such as depriving them of candidacy for the legislative seat.
On Thursday, security personnel cast their votes.
The election involves 320 political parties. There are nearly 7,000 candidates running for 329 seats in the Iraqi parliament.
More than 24 million of Iraq's 37 million people are eligible to vote. (end) aha.rk