Iraq will close its airports and border crossings for 24 hours during its May 12 election, the first held since it defeated Islamic State militants, the electoral security committee said on Wednesday. The shutdown will come into effect at midnight on Friday. Security forces will also suspend travel between provinces and restrict the movement of vehicles on Saturday, before easing the measures “gradually” after polls close, a spokesman for the committee told a news conference.
Islamic State militants have threatened to carry out attacks ahead of the elections and have warned Sunni Arabs not to participate.
The group swept through a third of Iraqi territory in 2014, but all towns and villages were recaptured after more than three years of fighting by government and Kurdish forces backed by a U.S.-led coalition, and Shi’ite militias backed by Iran.
Full Article: Iraq to close airports and border crossings during election | Reuters.
