MOSUL, Iraq, Jan 13 (AFP) - Every possible contingency, including suicide bombers blowing themselves up inside polling booths, is being examined by the US military in this restive city as the election countdown begins.
Short of escorting people from their homes to the ballot boxes, US soldiers are doing everything they can to make sure the situation is sufficiently under control for residents of this city of some 1.5 million to vote in the landmark Iraqi elections on January 30.
But even then there is the challenge of communicating this to people and easing their fears when everything related to the electoral process is shrouded in secrecy for security reasons.
Candidates and parties on lists for both the national assembly and the regional Ninevah provincial council are keeping a very low profile.
Campaign banners and posters are virtually nonexistent in Mosul, a predominantly minority Sunni Arab city, as authorities contemplate putting up pro-election billboards that would be guarded by Iraqi soldiers.
Most Sunni political and religious leaders have called for either a boycott or a delay of the elections.
Furthermore, little progress has been made in rebuilding the city's police force after it unraveled in November when insurgents attacked and torched stations.
Then there is the question of how you stop someone who is so much against the whole process that he's willing to wear an explosives-laden vest and to blow himself up in the midst of a crowd on election day.
"A group walking with bombs strapped to their chests are going to be difficult to defend against," says Lieutenant Colonel Michael Kurilla, commander of the 1st Brigade 24th Battalion in western Mosul.
A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a US military base in Mosul in December killing 22 people, most of them military personnel.
Several US military leaders in Iraq have warned in recent weeks that insurgents may mount "spectacular" attacks in the run-up to the vote.
Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has raised concern over the safety of elections in four provinces, alluding to Mosul, the western Anbar province, along with Salahuddin and Diyala north of Baghdad.
"Taking part in the elections is a flagrant infidelity!" warns a leaflet signed by the Ansar al-Sunna Army and found by US troops in Mosul.
Another leaflet signed by the Mujahedeen (holy warrior) Shura Council reads: "No, no to elections in the shadow of occupation."
Troops also say they found leaflets warning people that "they would be beheaded if they vote."
Ansar al-Sunna and the group of Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, both suspected of being active in Mosul and of having links to the Al-Qaeda terror network, have previously warned against participating in the elections.
"It becomes a question of whether putting that 'x' in the box is worth dying for," says Kurilla.
Hardly a day goes by in Mosul without a roadside or car bomb attack against Iraqi and US forces.
Two Iraqi soldiers were killed and two others were wounded when a car rigged with explosives blew up near a joint US-Iraqi patrol on Wednesday, a day after three Iraqi soldiers were killed as they were delivering, alongside US soldiers, heaters and fuel to schools in the city.
"It is impossible to have elections," says a man identifying himself as Abu Shab, 30. "Nobody will feel safe enough to go vote."
His friend Abu Omar, 55, says people are in constant fear of being caught in the crossfire between US troops and insurgents. They also worry about retribution from rebels if they are perceived to be sympathising with the US military or local authorities.
"People are terrified!" he says.
Hamid al-Zuhairi, 66, says he will vote if security is guaranteed.
"I would do it because it will give us a stable and secure country and security is the thing we need so badly."
Additional US and Iraqi forces were recently sent to Mosul to help secure the elections where a total of 8,000 additional troops are scheduled to operate, according to the US military.
US troops have also set up combat outposts inside the city in a bid to keep up their offensive against insurgents ahead of the vote.
"We need to give the perception of security," says Lieutenant Colonel Michael Gibler, who commands troops on the east side.
Troops will even begin handing out leaflets urging residents to vote.
"Tell terrorists enough is enough; stand in the face of terror to save Iraq on January 30," says one.

01/13/2005 13:37 GMT - AFP