New security measures introduced in Najaf

Part of the preparations for the elections on January 30 and as a precaution of the escalation of attacks, the commander of Najaf police, Ghaleb al-Jazaeri, announced banning any persons, not a resident of Najaf city, to stay in it the day of casting votes. He explained that the security plans for the city divides it to four security Zones.

These measures came in the course of a comprehensive plan by the interim Iraqi government, as the Iraqi cities are witnessing strong security measures of fears of the escalation of blowing up operations and attacks of gunmen with the approaching date of the elections.

Because of the deteriorated security conditions, Iraq's representative at the UN Samir al-Suneida' warned that his country will be a haven for "terrorists" if a date is not to be fixed for the withdrawal of the coalition forces led by the USA before the Iraqi forces will be able to deal with conditions.