Bomb blast kills Iraq policemen

Officers die in suicide attack in Anbar province as Iraqis for local elections.

Map of Iraq showing Baghdad

On Saturday, Iraqi election officials ordered transport bans and night-time curfews during the polls.

Iraq’s borders will also be sealed off, while all civilian airports and provincial borders will be shut from 10pm (19:00 GMT) on Friday
until 5 am (02:00 GMT) on February 1, the election commission said.

“In no instance will any car be authorised to approach a polling station,” it said.

Iraqi police say they have evidence to suggest that al-Qaeda fighters are still operating in Garma, which lies in the western desert province of Anbar.

The province was the main stronghold of al-Qaeda, a key player in the Sunni Muslim Arab resistance to the US invasion, but tribal chieftains have forced out al-Qaeda over the last two years.

Although Anbar is now calmer, analysts say that tensions between Sunnis are increasing in the run-up to the provincial elections.

Source: News Agencies

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