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GHAZNICITY (PAN): Top officials including the governor Tuesday claimed security had been strengthened for the upcoming polls in the troubled southern province of Ghazni, but the Independent Election Commission (IEC) said it could not open 33 polling centres due to insecurity.

Governor Dr. Osman Osmani, police chief Brig. Khyal Baz Sherzai, Intelligence Department head Dr. Shah Jahan and General Rajab, commander of third brigade of the 203rd military corps, told journalists they had boosted security for the elections.

But IEC provincial chief Abdul Bari Rahimi, also present at the joint press conference in GhazniCity, said there were 446 polling centers, but 33 of them remained closed for security and other reasons. He added none of the 10 polling centre had been opened in Nawa district.

Rahimi explained residents of the restive district could cast their votes in Gilan and Muqur districts of the province.

Dr. Osmani, who said they had put in place effective security measures, expected voting would take place in a secure environment. He asked the people not to be sacred of Taliban threats and go to polling centres with complete confidence to elect their new leaders.

The governor said 6,000 international and Afghan forces had been deployed across the province to maintain security. "As part of the elaborate security arrangements, 10 helicopters will be available for use in case of need."

He rejected Taliban threats that main roads in the province would be closed ahead of the key vote they have vowed to disrupt. Osmani promised: "All roads will remain open and there will be no security problem."

mnm/mud