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KABUL (PAN): A 30-member team of the International Republican Institute (IRI) is scheduled to arrive in Afghanistan to monitor the upcoming presidential and provincial council elections. 

The IRI delegates would monitor voting and ballot counting across the country, the Washington-based institute said, adding it would issue a statement on the findings of the delegation after the voting.

Led by Richard S. Williamson, IRI board member and former US ambassador to the UN, the delegation includes representatives from Canada, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine and theUnitedStates.

A third of the delegation took part in election observation missions for Afghanistans 2004 presidential election and 2005 parliamentary elections, IRI said in a statement mailed to Pajhwok Afghan News.

Prior to Election Day, short-term observers will be briefed by representatives from the US Embassy, election officials, international and Afghan NGOs, representatives of presidential candidates and the media. 

They will also be briefed on the rights and responsibilities of international observers and Afghan election law. "Delegates will then be deployed throughout the country where they will monitor polling stations and identify and evaluate strengths and weaknesses inAfghanistans election system."

Additionally, IRI has deployed three long-term election observation mission staff to monitor the political environment in Afghanistan in the weeks leading up to the election. The group has met representatives of the candidates and domestic and international NGOS, as well as with government officials, election administrators and Afghan citizens.

mud/pr