EU team to observe Guatemalan polls

BRUSSELS, July 30 (Reuters) A team of more than 100 European Union observers will monitor Guatemala's September 9 elections for a president, congress and mayors across the country, the European Commission said today.

The mission will be led by Wolfgang Kreissl-Doerfler, a German Social Democrat member of the European Parliament.

The chief observer and seven experts will arrive at the end of July and be joined a short time later by 48 long-term observers who will be deployed throughout the country during the campaign period, the EU executive said in a statement.

An additional 50 short-term observers, as well as members of European Parliament and diplomats from EU member state embassies in Guatemala, will join the mission on election day, it said.

The EU mission, for which 4.79 million dollars has been allocated, will remain for a second round of the presidential election if this was required, the statement said.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the elections ''should mark a further step towards the consolidation of democracy in Guatemala''.

Officials and analysts say drug traffickers are supporting candidates ranging from national lawmakers to first timers in politics. Some 50 people have been killed in the runup to the polls.

REUTERS JT KP2136