Iraqi officials announce borders to close

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.

Iraq’s international borders will be closed from January 29 until January 31, except for Muslim pilgrims returning from the hajj in Saudi Arabia, according to a statement by Farid Ayar of Iraq’s Independent Electoral Commission.

Iraqis will be barred from travelling between provinces and a night-time curfew will be imposed during the same period, he said.

Such measures had been expected because of the grave security threat from Sunni Muslim insurgents who have vowed to disrupt the balloting.

Many Sunnis fear a loss of power to the Shiite Muslim majority, which strongly supports the election and whose candidates are expected to win most of the 275 seats in a new National Assembly.