Early Voting Begins in Iraq Elections
Patients, soldiers and prisoners began voting Monday in parliamentary elections, a few days ahead of the general population, to choose Iraq’s first fully constitutional parliament since the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein. To prevent insurgents from disrupting Thursday’s main balloting, the government said it will close its borders, extend a nighttime curfew and restrict domestic travel starting Tuesday. In a development that could impact the general election, 13 prisoners who were apparent victims of abuse were discovered at an overcrowded detention center run by the Interior Ministry, Iraqi and U.S. military officials said. Full Story