| Iraq is to close its borders, extend night curfews and restrict movement inside the country to protect voters, election officials said on Tuesday. Iraq's borders will be closed from 29 to 31 January except for Muslim pilgrims returning from the Haj 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, he said. Aljazeera also learned that clashes erupted on Tuesday between Iraqi soldiers and fighters on the main highway near al-Dura area, south of Baghdad. An Iraqi police source said there were casualties but gave no other details. |