Carter arriving today

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KATHMANDU, NOV 15 - A group of election observersrepresenting international institutions and election bodies are arriving for the November 19 Constituent Assembly election .

Former US President Jimmy Carter is scheduled to arrive here on Saturday on a week-long visit. Carter, who also chairs the Carter Center, an international poll observation institution, will be accompanied by former Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surkiat Sathianthai, and other members of his team.

A senior official at the Center said Carter will meet top government officials and political leaders and observe polling centres.

Carter is scheduled to meet election commissioners on Sunday morning.

The Carter Center, which had also observed the 2008 CA election, has mobilised 64 poll observers (52 Short Term Observers and 12 Long Term Observers) this time. In 2008, the Center had mobilised a big short-term delegation of 62 observers from more than 20 countries.

According to EC officials, chief election commissioners and commissioners of the Saarc region, Japanese senators, an Australian parliamentarian and six members of the British House of Commons and House of Lords are also arriving on Saturday.

Chairperson of Thailand's Election Commission is also arriving next week to observe the election.

The European Union has already deployed 100 poll observers across the country, while 51 national institutions have also mobilised over 70,000 poll observers across the country.