Election security 'an all-Iraq show'

A top US military officer insisted that a massive security operation for the next day's general election requires little American manpower.

A top US military officer insisted on Saturday that a massive security operation for the next day's general election was "an all-Iraq show" requiring little American manpower.

Lieutenant General Charles Jacoby, the second highest-ranking US officer in Iraq, told reporters in Baghdad that local security forces had made a "solid kick-off" during early voting on Thursday, despite two suicide attacks that killed seven Iraqi soldiers.

His comments came after Al-Qaeda in Iraq threatened to kill people who cast ballots on Sunday, in the second parliamentary poll since the US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Jacoby, deputy to General Ray Odierno, said the warning from the Islamic State of Iraq, the Qaeda front in the country, was the kind of "rhetoric" he would expect and it would not intimidate the electorate.

"There are remnants of terrorist groups that would like to disrupt the elections," said Jacoby, who described the insurgents as "determined."

But he noted that the actual interior rooms of polling stations were not "compromised" on Thursday when troops, prisoners and the sick voted, ahead of the general population.

"Their intention will be to try and rely on the same old things, to try and instill fear. Iraqi security forces demonstrated two days ago that they can provide an environment where Iraqis can vote without fear."

Jacoby said the role of the US military, which has 96,000 troops in the country, was a supportive one to Iraqi commanders who have planned a nationwide lockdown that involves 200,000 police and soldiers in Baghdad alone.

"As requested, we advise, we assist, we train and we enable our Iraqi security force partners," said Jacoby.

"Of course, we always stand ready to provide logistics or medical assistance as required but I will tell you that this is really an all-Iraq show," the top general said.

"Our partners across the board have shown full capacity to run a safe and legitimate election."

Jacoby would not specify the number of US troops who would be involved on Sunday and described most of their tasks as "contingency-based activities" where American soldiers would be on standby.

"The kind of help that the Iraqis have discussed with us and we have rehearsed and practiced with them are very low manpower intensive activities," he said.

The final days of campaigning have been overshadowed by a series of suicide bombings in Baghdad and the city of Baquba. On Saturday, a car bomb targeting Iranian pilgrims killed three people in Najaf, Iraq's holiest Shiite city.

Jacoby said there was no reason to doubt the success of Sunday's vote and the security measures.

"In 2005, despite greatly increased levels of violence compared with today, Iraqis came out in huge numbers to vote," he said.

"Extensive work has been done by the Iraqis to make each polling site secure and safe. I would point out that on March 4 there wasn't a single incident within any of the security layers within a polling site."

In a statement on Friday, the Islamic State of Iraq, said it was imposing a "curfew" on Sunday and anyone who dared defy it would "expose himself to the anger of Allah and... all kinds of weapons of the mujahedeen."

Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Qaeda front, threatened last month to disrupt by "military means" the poll which looks set to see minority Sunnis vote en masse, in stark contrast to their 2005 election boycott.

"It's not wise for any soldier to underestimate the enemy," said Jacoby.

"But I believe, despite the intentions of remnants of terrorist organisations to disrupt the election, Iraqi security forces have demonstrated and will demonstrate that they can reduce that threat."