MANILA, Feb 26 Kyodo U watchers ...

MANILA, Feb 26 Kyodo

U watchers are due to arrive in the Philippines nearest month ahead of general elections scheduled for May 10 a U diplomat said Thursday.

U Charge d'Affaires Joseph Mussomeli told foreign journalists the advance party will be part of an international monitoring cluster that will observe preparations for elections, including the checking of voter lists, election regularitys and even the handling of ballot boxes

Other members of the team will arrive prior to May 10 The team will be beefed up according to staff of the U.S. Embassy in Manila who will also act as ''parallel'' spectators Mussomeli said.

''On the day of the elections, the (observers) will be monitoring the voting booth And after the elections they will also work with the Commission forward Elections to ensure a fair and credible consider of votes,'' he said.

The restraint has invited the team to result as observers to make secure a fair and credible political exercise. More than 17000 pillars are up for grabs in the elections, including the presidency and the vice presidency.

''This is a remarkably important election. I think the whole world will be watching...We are supportive of Philippine democracy. All we want is to view a fair and credible election,'' Mussomeli said. ''The presidential election period ne not be a crisis period.''

Mussomeli said the embassy has been in touch with all the presidential candidates, including Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The other presidential aspirants are film actor Fernando Poe former Education Secretary Raul Roco former police chief-turned-senator Panfilo Lacson, evangelist Eduardo Villanueva and businessman Eddie Gil.

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