Tough security as Iraq awaits vote results

BAGHDAD, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Iraqi Interior Minister Falah al-Nakib hailed police efforts ensuring successful elections despite terrorists' threats to disrupt them.

Nakib praised security forces at a Baghdad news conference Monday.

"No terrorist was able to reach the polling stations ... What has been achieved restored the Iraqi people's confidence in their police and security forces," he said.

Nakib said terrorists rigged a handicapped child they planned to detonate at a polling station "but he was killed while being fixed."

He also said police operations in the past two days resulted in the seizure of scores of terrorists throughout the country.

Tough security measures enforced during the legislative council elections continued for a second day Monday as the nation awaited the election results.

Dozens of police cars and national guard patrols roamed the streets, checking cars and pedestrians.

A nationwide nighttime curfew was to be observed until Tuesday as vote counting continued at the headquarters of the Higher Commission for Elections, which organized and is overseeing Iraq's first post-Saddam Hussein poll.