SANTIAGO, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on Friday appealed on citizens to peacefully participate in Sunday's general elections.

    The president made the appeal during a visit to the press center of the general elections in Santiago.

    "In general, the election campaign has formed a climate of respect and tolerance and I hope it will continue," Bachelet said and asked Chileans to go to polling stations with their "usual tranquility."

    "Cooperate with those of the Armed Forces and with the ones from the Order and Security for everything to work very well, and also cooperate with those who are appointed at the voting table for the voting and counting to be conducted in order," the president added.

    More than 8 million Chileans are expected to cast their votes on Sunday at 34,000 polling stations across the country. The polling is scheduled to last from 07:00 to 16:00 local time (1000 to 1900 GMT).

    Over 35,000 police officers will be mobilized nationwide to ensure the elections take place smoothly and the police are on high alert against possible bomb attacks.

    Last year, the country suffered 21 bomb attacks and this year, 20 bomb attacks have so far been reported.

    Meanwhile, the government of neighboring Argentina said on Friday that the more than 500,000 Chilean nationals working in the country would be able to travel back home to take part in the elections.