ATTACK ON IHEC STAFF IN SOUTHERN BASRAH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BASRAH 000070 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/19/2018 TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER KDEM IZ SUBJECT: ATTACK ON IHEC STAFF IN SOUTHERN BASRAH REF: BASRAH 00067 CLASSIFIED BY: Ramon Negron, Director, Regional Embassy Office Basrah, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(g) ¶1. (C) A local source from the Iraqi Intelligence Department in Abu al-Khaseeb informed REO interpreter via telephone that unknown gunmen opened fire on three IHEC staff members at 8:45 on the morning of August 18. Two of the staff, Jasmin Mohammad and Ma'ad Wahab, were killed. The third staff member was wounded--no further details. The three individuals were on their way to work at a voter registration center (VRC) in al-Bahdireah, near the edge of the Abu al-Khaseeb region in southern Basrah. ¶2. (C) Comment: Election registration, which was scheduled to end last week, has been extended until August 21. This is the first known attack on IHEC staff since the election registration process began on July 15. Up until this time, Governorate Electoral Office (GEO) Director Hazim Joda had described IHEC security as "adequate." It is worth noting, however, that the attack did not take place at a VRC. On previous occasions, Joda has described the Iraqi Police as "untrustworthy" and a problem (REFTEL). End comment. NEGRON