Killings hit run-up to Iraq vote

Iraq's exercise in democracy is being secured by force of arms

Insurgents have attacked US troops, polling stations and Iraqi forces as security was tightened ahead of Sunday's landmark national election.

Five US soldiers were killed in three attacks on Friday, and at least 10 Iraqis died in Baghdad and Ramadi.

An extended curfew has begun to be followed by border closures and movement restrictions on Saturday, with US troops deployed to protect polls.

Expatriate Iraqis were allowed to start early voting in 14 countries on Friday.

In other developments:

• The Iraqi government says it has arrested three close aides of the alleged leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, one described as his Baghdad commander

• Zarqawi supporters claim to have killed a candidate on interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's list and will show the video later on the internet

• A US Army observation helicopter crashes in south-west Baghdad, two days after a helicopter crash in bad weather killed 31.

Threats 'serious'

The tempo of violence appears to be increasing in the run-up to the poll, the BBC's Paul Wood in Baghdad says.

ELECTION SCHEDULE Friday: Expatriate voting begins; overnight curfews in Iraq Saturday: Borders and airport closed for three days Sunday: Election day, cars banned from roads, polls open 0700 (0400 GMT) and close 1700 (1400 GMT) 28,000 voting booths in some 5,300 polling centres Next week: Vote counting for 4 or 5 days Early Feb: Final results announced Early March: PM appointed Late March: Government formed Election security challenge BBC obtains Iraq death figures

The violence has led to many candidates campaigning without revealing their names.

Our correspondent, who accompanied two candidates in Baghdad as the campaign drew to a close, says people are taking the threats seriously.

In many places, insurgents carried out mortar, rocket and bomb attacks against polling centres.

For this reason the location of most polling stations remains secret, even as the ballot boxes are distributed by the security forces, our correspondent adds.

More troops

Hundreds of police are being deployed to enforce the extra security lasting three days around Sunday's election.

New US helicopter crash Daily Iraq log

These include closing Iraq's borders, the Baghdad international airport and the banning of civilian vehicles on election day.

A US general in Iraq has been quoted as saying that the multinational force will expand its combat power on the streets by one third to try to make the elections safe.

Sunni insurgents told Iraqis on Thursday to boycott the polls, a day after President Bush urged voters to "defy the terrorists".

The minority Sunni community dominated Iraqi politics during the regime of Saddam Hussein.

But the election is expected to lead to a power shift in favour of majority Shia Muslims.

Sunday's vote will be supervised by 828 international monitors, with a number of foreign embassies also providing staff to act as monitors.

Overseas vote

The expatriate vote is running from Friday to Sunday.

HAVE YOUR SAY Voting means voting against violence, it means voting against terrorism and it means voting for free and democratic Iraq Ahmad Mousawi Iraqi in London, UK Send us your comments

About 280,000 people in 14 countries - from Australia, the Middle East, Europe and North America - may take part.

Some decided not to participate amid fears of possible persecution against themselves and their relatives still living in Iraq, community leaders say in Australia.

Iraqi nationals are also voting in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, Turkey, the United States, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.

You can watch John Simpson's Panorama programme on the state of Iraq on BBC One on Sunday 30 January at 2215 GMT and on BBC World on Saturday 5 February at 0810, 1210 and 2210 GMT.