Iraq sets July 4 for local elections in 2 Sunni provinces

BAGHDAD, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi cabinet decided Tuesday to hold the provincial elections in the Sunni provinces of Anbar and Nineveh on July 4, after they were delayed for security reasons, state-run television reported Tuesday.

"The Council of Ministers decided in its regular session today to set July 4 for the provincial elections of the councils in the provinces of Anbar and Nineveh," the state-run al-Iraqia channel said.

On March 19, the cabinet decided to postpone the provincial elections of the two provinces for a maximum period of six months due to the worsening security situation.

Iraq held its provincial elections on April 20 in 12 of its 18 provinces to choose their representatives in provincial councils and the voter turnout reached 51 percent.

The two Sunni provinces, in addition to the three provinces of the autonomous Kurdistan region and the disputed northern province of Kirkuk, were not covered by the April-20 elections.

The local elections are due to be held every four years in the country, according to the Iraqi constitution.

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