U.N. vets Iraqi election directors

BAGHDAD, April 28 (UPI) -- The top U.N. envoy to Iraq reviewed the list of candidates nominated to serve as directors of provincial election offices.

The United Nations reached an agreement with the Iraqi Council of Representatives to assist in the electoral process in order to secure a professional and transparent selection process for the Iraqi provincial elections scheduled for October.

Special Representative of the Secretary General for Iraq Staffan de Mistura urged the Iraqi Council of Representatives to submit the nominees for the Baghdad office, adding, "There is a need to finalize the selection process to enable (the Independent High Election Commission) to start planning for voter registration," the United Nations said in a release.

De Mistura noted, however, the deadline for the submission of the Baghdad director was extended because of the surge of violence in the Iraqi capital.

"We hope very much that agreement can be reached in the Council of Representatives on the list of candidates for the Baghdad offices," he said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his quarterly report on the U.N. Assistance Mission to Iraq released Saturday that provincial elections would secure the legitimacy of the central government, but he warned that "critical political decisions will have to be made if scheduled election activities are to be completed in 2008."