Death threats delay Iraqi vote preparations

Four election officials who received death threats have left Mosul, stalling preparations for the vote in the northern Iraqi city. Insurgents have torched election materials and a militant group believed to operate in Mosul has warned Iraqis not to take part in the election.

Iraq’s third-largest city is already getting a taste of what many across the country fear may happen to Iraq’s democratic transformation: insurgents using force and intimidation to try to hinder nationwide elections scheduled for January 30.