Insurgents put Baghdad into darkness

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Insurgents sabotaged power lines to the capital Friday evening, knocking out electricity across the greater Baghdad area and plunging it into darkness on the eve of the country's key vote on a new constitution.



Mahmoud al-Saaedi, an Electricity Ministry spokesman, said power lines were sabotaged between the northern towns of Kirkuk and Beiji leading to the Baghdad region.

He did not specify how insurgents damaged the lines, but militants in the past have used bombs to hit infrastructure.

Iraqi and U.S. forces have clamped down with intensive security measures to prevent insurgent attacks on voters Saturday.

Al-Saaedi had earlier said "technical problems" were to blame for the blackout and that there was no sign of sabotage.

The lights went out soon after sundown, when Muslims break their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan, at around 6 p.m. Power was still off more than two hours later, ahead of the start of the 10 p.m. curfew.

Baghdad's skyline was black except for pinpoints of light from private generators. The blackout appeared to have affected much of Baghdad province, an area of 2,250 square miles.