Iraq bans all non-Iraqi Arabs from entering country

Iraq’s Interior Ministry has banned all non-Iraqi Arabs from entering the country until further notice, part of security measures taken for the December 15 general elections.

The decision was taken on Tuesday by Interior Minister Bayan Jabr, said two senior Interior Ministry officials.

Today, Royal Jordanian prevented an Associated Press reporter with Egyptian citizenship from boarding the plane leaving to Baghdad.

Royal Jordanian officials said they had orders from Iraqi authorities not to allow Arabs on the plane.

“This step is part of the security measures taken for the elections,” said one of the senior Interior Ministry officials.

“It covers all border points whether airports, land border crossings and ports.”

He said the ban was open-ended. Another senior official said the ban will continue until December 17, two days after the elections.