Iraq clamps down ahead of constitution vote

IRAQ prepared to seal itself off from the outside world yesterday and clamp down on movement around the country to ward off threats from insurgents bent on wrecking a referendum on a new constitution.

US and Iraqi forces stepped up security across the country and prepared to impose an overnight curfew to try to reduce insurgent attacks aimed at wrecking this weekend's referendum.

One day after Iraqi lawmakers approved a set of last-minute amendments to the constitution without a vote, sealing a compromise designed to win minority Sunni Arab support for the charter, cities including Baghdad were unusually quiet as a four-day national holiday began.