The following security measures will be taken according to the Interior Minister

The interim government of Iraq has announced further sweeping security measures to try to prevent insurgents from disrupting Election Day on January the 30th. The Interior Minister Falan Al-Naqib said Baghdad Airport will be shut down for 2 days and there’ll be widespread curfews. The movement of cars and pedestrians will also be restricted. From Baghdad Caroline H. reports: Iraq’s first multi-party elections in nearly half a century will be marked by an unprecedented security operation. Iraqi police and national guardsmen will protect the actual polling stations while there’ll be a record number of 150, 000 American troops in the country for the vote. The Interior Minster echoed comments by the interim Prime Minster Iyad Allawi, acknowledging that there was no guarantee the security measures would be 100% effective. To try to encourage the Iraqi security forces at such a dangerous time, the government says it will pay them special bonuses for their work during the vote.