Iraq attacks kill 27 as security forces vote

Attacks including a spate of suicide bombings killed 27 soldiers and policemen on Monday as they voted in Iraq's first election since US troops withdrew. The bombings in Baghdad and the north and west raise serious concerns about the security forces' ability to protect people during Wednesday's general election, when more than 20 million Iraqis are eligible to vote. They come amid a protracted surge in violence and fears the country is edging towards all-out conflict. Seven attackers wearing suicide belts hit polling stations in Baghdad and cities north of the capital, while roadside bombs struck military convoys and targeted journalists covering the polling, according to AFP.