Iraqi security forces have increased security ahead of parliamentary election. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)
BAGHDAD, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces intensified security measures near hundreds of polling centers across Iraq, which will open for the security forces two days ahead of May 12 parliamentary, a police officer told Xinhua on Wednesday.
Colonel Nibras Mohammed Ali, head of media office of Baghdad police, told Xinhua that "the police of Baghdad province started deployment security patrols to secure the polling centers, in accordance with a plan presented by Baghdad Operation Command (BOC)."
The BOC plan includes setting up three security belts: one of which is members of Facilities Protection Police wearing civilian uniforms inside the polling centers, second belt for police forces around the centers, while the third belt for soldiers and other security forces to deploy in wider circle in the surrounding area, Ali said.
The security plan also concentrates on intelligence efforts to secure the polling centers, through carrying out pre-emptive operations during the past few days, Ali added.
The security forces searched the areas surrounding the polling centers and secured the nearby high buildings by deploying security members on their roofs, Ali said.
Ali praised the Iraqi citizens for being cooperative with the security forces during the pre-emptive operations, asserting that their cooperation is a result of defeating Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq, which gave great confidence to the citizens about the ability of the security forces.
"Up to 23,000 members of Baghdad police have participated to secure the elections, in addition to more security forces ready in intervene if needed," Ali said, adding that the Iraqi aircraft will also help in security the elections.
Tightened security measures could be seen near the polling centers in many areas in Baghdad, according to Xinhua correspondents who made a tour in the city.
Earlier in the day, an electoral security committee said in a televised press release that international airports and border crossings would be closed for 24 hours on the day of elections.
"The closure will last from midnight Friday till midnight Saturday," the state-run Iraqiya TV channel quoted the committee as saying.
The security measures also include restricting movement of vehicles in the cities, in addition to suspending traffic between provinces on Saturday, the channel said.
The security measures were taken ahead of the voting of the parliamentary election due on Saturday, in which around 7,000 candidates will compete for the 329 parliamentary seats.
This will be the first general election since Iraq's historical victory over the IS in December last year.
Iraq's previous general election was held on April 30, 2014, when the Iraqis elected 328 lawmakers for the parliament.
