United Nations, Feb 17 (TIWN) The top UN envoy for Iraq called for a free and safe environment for elections in Iraq scheduled for October 2021.

For credible elections to take place, it is imperative that parties and candidates operate in a free and safe environment. The same goes for members of the media. In this regard, recent incidents are highly troubling — to say the least, said Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN secretary-general’s special representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.