Spanish police clamp down on dealers in vote buying

MADRID, May 25 (KUNA) -- Spanish police and the National Guards have apprehended a number of people in several provinces on charges of corruption and vote buying in the run-up to the elections due next Sunday.
Official television station reported that 20 persons were detained in Melilla city, provinces Al-Mariah, Huelva, Samura and Alicante for counterfeiting mail votes.
The newspapers, El-Pais and El-Mundo, reported that some of the detainees were members of municipalities and of various political trends.
Among the accusations was paying euro 100 per vote, granting work or making threats of depriving the targeted persons of government aid.
Up to 35.54 million people are due to vote in the elections to choose 8,228 mayors, members of the electoral councils and 736 deputies in parliaments of the regions including Madrid. (end) hnd.rk