EU to send observers into Mali for legislative polls

The European Union Electoral Observer Mission for Mali (MOE EU Mali-2013) will on Oct. 28 deploy 20 long-term observers for the legislative polls to be held in the West African country.

MOE EU Mali-2013 observers arrived in the Malian capital Bamako on Oct. 24 in preparation for the most important issue in the post- coup country since the presidential election in August, officials said on Friday.

The Malian authorities decided to hold the first and second round of the legislative elections, respectively on Nov. 24 and Dec. 15 to complete the process of return to constitutional order.

Alain Chabod, who is in charge of media relations of the MOE EU Mali-2013, on Thursday said the 20 observers from 14 EU members and Norway will be heading to their respective zones where eligible voters account for 90 percent of the total.

The 20 observers will be joined on Nov. 19 by short-term observers, he said, adding that the mission will be beefed up on the voting day by EU diplomats in Bamako.

The EU has more than 100 observers on the ground during the first and second round of the legislative elections, according to the official.

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