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Baghdad's curfew gets a little looser

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published April 4, 2007

BAGHDAD - Citing improved security in the capital, the Iraqi government said Tuesday that it was shortening the Baghdad curfew by two hours and would allow citizens on the streets until 10 p.m.

The easing of the ban on movement around the city coincided with a one-day sharp drop in the number of people known to have been killed in sectarian violence nationwide. According to police and morgue reports, 18 people were killed or found dead Tuesday.

Violence in the capital has declined since the latest U.S.-Iraqi joint security operation began on Feb. 14, though there have been spectacular attacks.

But bloodshed has increased elsewhere after insurgents and militia members moved operations out of the capital. Last week more than 600 people were killed nationwide in sectarian attacks.

Since the start of the Baghdad security operation, the military had enforced a 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. ban. Before that, the curfew had been 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Police in Samara, however, said U.S. and Iraqi forces had imposed an indefinite curfew starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Samara was the scene of an al-Qaida bombing of a Shiite holy shrine in February 2006. Many blame that attack for the eruption of sectarian violence.

Fast Facts:

Also in Iraq

-Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zubaie, a Sunni, was discharged Tuesday from a hospital in Jordan where he was treated after an assassination attempt last month by a group linked to al-Qaida, Iraqi Ambassador Saad al-Hayyani said. Zubaie is "completely recovered, but he will stay in Amman for a few more days," Hayyani said.

-Iraqi President Jalal Talabani set up a committee to develop new security rules in response to government officials and lawmakers who are tired of being searched by American troops and private security contractors, his office said Tuesday.

-An insurgent group in Iraq posted a video online late Monday showing a kidnapped German woman and son weeping and pleading for help. The Arrows of Righteousness gave Germany 10 days to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan or else Hannelore Marianne Krause, 61, and her adult son Sinan would be killed.

[Last modified April 4, 2007, 01:23:38]