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Curfew Declared In Baghdad In Bid To Stem Violence

24 February 2006 -- Iraq's government declared a curfew in Baghdad in an effort to prevent possible sectarian violence between Shi'ites and Sunnis on the Muslim day of prayer.

The measure comes after two days of attacks on minority Sunnis in response to the bombing, on 22 February, of a Shi'ite shrine.

The Iraqi government has declared a curfew until 4 p.m. today in Baghdad and surrounding provinces.

Sectarian violence left more than 130 people dead on 23 February. Dozens of mosques have been damaged.

Baghdad's streets were quiet in mid-morning, with police, security forces, and Interior Ministry troops deployed at roadblocks and checkpoints.

Leading clerics, including Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, are making efforts to rein in Shi'ite militants.

Sunni political leaders have pulled out of negotiations on forming a coalition government, blaming the current violence.

(compiled from agency reports)

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org