ABU DHABI, 25 Dec, 04 (WAM) - Euphoric Iraqi expatriates at a meetinghere yesterday learnt the nitty-gritty of voting in their country's forthcomingnational assembly elections scheduled for January 30.

The 40,000 Iraqi expatriates in the country can vote from January 28to 30 for which arrangements will be made in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, saidMichael Burke, the representative of the International Organisation ofMigration (IOM), which has been designated by the Iraqi election commissionto conduct out-of-country voting for the expatriates, according to reportsin the UAE's dailies.

The meeting was jointly organised by the Iraqi business councils of AbuDhabi and Dubai, at the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The ION will oversee the voting in 14 countries across the world, includingthe UAE, that have been chosen on the basis of expatriate concentration,Burke told Khaleej Times.

The UAE has pledged support for the conduct of the elections. The countriesin the region where out-of-country voting will be held are Syria, Jordan,Iran and Turkey, he said.

He said arrangements are being made for in-person electoral registration,voters- list finalisation and designation of centres.

The election will put in place a 275-member parliament for a period ofone year during which it is expected to frame a new constitution for thewar-ravaged country. It is mandatory that a fourth of the general assemblymembers should be women.

Aziz Jassani, the chairman of the election commission's business council,said meetings would be held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, to disseminateinformation to voters on the procedures.

According to the Gulf News, a member of the Iraqi Business Councilsaid: "We have chosen to hold this event in the UAE because it is a safecountry and because there is a large Iraqi population in the UAE. A committeewill explain to the Iraqis the mechanisms of the upcoming elections andthe documents needed to vote.

Registrations will take place from January 17 to 23 and after reviewingthe registrations, we will name the people who are eligible to vote. Uptill then, we will explain to people the voting process and its mechanisms."He expected that more than half a million Iraqis in the Gulf are eligibleto vote, including nearly 100,000 in the UAE.

"It is not necessary that they will all vote but we do hope that themajority will. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness amongstIraqis living abroad." Shaker Al Monthiry, at the Dubai Iraqi BusinessCouncil, said: "This is a non-political event and is self-funded. We donot support any factions and our only aim is to explain and clarify toIraqis about the voting process to encourage them to perform their duties."Dr Falih Handhal, Executive Council Member at the Abu Dhabi Iraqi BusinessCouncil, said that the registration boxes will be located in 14 countries.

He said: "These registration boxes are closed and we hope that the UAEwill be the centre for reviewing and collating registrations. The UAEis a safe country and neutral that has always been supportive of the Iraqis."Many Iraqis are strong nationalists and see voting as a national dutythat will lead them to democracy.