Iraqi authorities said Wednesday they will close the country’s borders and airspace for 24 hours over an upcoming parliamentary election as they seek to impose a security lockdown.
The measures running throughout Saturday are similar to ones applied during previous nationwide polls in the conflict-wracked nation.
PM @HaiderAlAbadi: All measures are now in place to safeguard the integrity of the elections on 12 May, and ensure a safe & secure electoral environment as Iraqis cast their vote to choose their parliamentary representatives pic.twitter.com/bkm8AFI3jT
— Government of Iraq – الحكومة العراقية (@IraqiGovt) May 9, 2018
Some 24.5 million Iraqi voters are registered to cast their ballots in the fourth parliamentary vote since the 2003 toppling of dictator Saddam Hussein.
The poll comes just five months after Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State group, following a brutal campaign to push the jihadists out of the country. ISIS has threatened to target the elections but the run-up to the vote has seen a lull in violence across Iraq.
The @IraqiGovt is implementing measures to maintain a safe and peaceful election environment as Iraqis head to the polls on 12 May to choose their parliamentary representatives #IraqVotes pic.twitter.com/vPk3tpxC3n
— Government of Iraq – الحكومة العراقية (@IraqiGovt) May 9, 2018
