Seven of Iraq’s 18 provinces, including key Sunni Arab-majority ones, had a turnout of more than 66% in the country’s landmark referendum on a constitution, election officials said today.

Insurgents blew up an oil pipeline in the northern oil fields of Iraq and killed two senior police officers in Baghdad, officials said today, as political leaders sized up their positions following confirmation of election results.

Clergy-backed Shiites and independence-minded Kurds swept to victory in Iraq’s elections, according to final results released tonight.

Iraqi election commission officials are expected to announce final results from the landmark January 30 balloting at a news conference today.

Iraq will close its borders, extend night-time curfews and restrict movement inside the country to protect voters during the January 30 national elections, election officials announced today.

Iraqi authorities set January 30 as the date for the nation’s first election since the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship and pledged that voting would take place throughout the country, despite rising violence and calls by Sunni clerics for a boycott.

Iraq's Electoral Commission said today that national elections will be held on January 30.