BAGHDAD
The Baghdad Operations Command on Sunday said a ban on vehicles would be imposed in the Iraqi capital, starting of Tuesday evening, in an effort to avoid car bombings during the elections day on Wednesday.
"Baghdad's entrances and exits will be closed down during the ban," command spokesman Col. Saad Maan said in a statement.
The Baghdad Operations Command is responsible for maintaining order and security in the capital. It was established in 2007 upon a decision by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Maan said the date for lifting the ban has not been decided yet, noting that this date will be decided in the light of the assessment of security agencies in the capital.
Around 20 million Iraqis are expected to go to polling stations across their country on Wednesday to select 328 members for the country's parliament.
The elections are being held amid several security challenges across Iraq.
On Friday, a car bombing attack that targeted an electoral rally in eastern Baghdad left 28 people dead and 50 others injured.
Recent months have seen an uptick in violence across Iraq. Although most attacks go unclaimed, Iraqi authorities usually point the finger at Al-Qaeda-linked militants.
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