Less than three weeks before the Iraqi parliamentary elections to be held on May 12, armed assaults start as well as election violations and parties being obstructed.

Yesterday at noon, Bashûrê (Southern) Kurdistan Elections High Council Administrative Works Manager Faris Mihammed was shot and killed in an attack in Hewler.

The armed assault happened at noon yesterday in front of the Family Mall on the 100 Meter Avenue in Hewler. An investigation has been launched on the matter.

FORMER PUK PESHMERGA

Faris Mihammed is a former PUK peshmerga and is known for his ties with the PUK, which hasn’t issued an official statement yet. PUK Spokesperson Ahmed Sadi Pire did say they would not be making a statement on the matter for now, and added that the incident is not an ordinary murder, but a political killing and an assassination.

ATTACK CAME AFTER ELECTION FRAUD WAS ANNOUNCED

Two days ago, the Bashûrê Kurdistan Elections High Council had announced that some 600.000 votes had been cast in the name of deceased citizens.