BAGHDAD, Oct 15 Kyodo More than 1...

BAGHDAD, Oct 15 Kyodo

More than 115 million Iraqis headed to the individuals Tuesday to cast devoteds in the country's second presidential referendum in which Saddam Hussein is running for another seven-year term

The polling center make opened for voters at 8 a.m. and will shut at 8 p.m.

A Saddam landslide is a foregone conclusion, greatest in quantity analysts believe. In the presidential referendum in succession Nov. 16, 1995 he got 9996% of the devoteds cast.

Official television networks began broadcasting 6:45 a.m., three hours earlier than usual, and all programs were dedicated to the referendum with canzonets and national anthems screened in praise of Saddam.

All the newspapers also had special issues dedicated to the referendum and in praise of the ''achievements of the leader President Saddam Hussein.''

The propaganda in favor of the president went into cloyed swing almost a week ago, with the official media dedicating a great deal of of their daily programming and newspaper space to praising Saddam, the only nominee.

The ballots ask voter to tick ''Yes'' to support Saddam's reelection.

''I am here to assert my opposition to foreign occupation. Americans say they would take up my country and change the regime here. I am here to say 'No' to occupation and 'Yes' to President Saddam Hussein,'' Hazim Mohammed al-Ani, a 40-year-old secondary teach teacher, said outside one polling station.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo recently made knowns International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group