The Australian: Baghdad curfew to stem violence [February 24, 2006]

The Australian: Baghdad curfew to stem violence [February 24, 2006]: "February 24, 2006

THE Iraqi government will impose a daytime curfew on Baghdad and three surrounding provinces today in an effort to avert sectarian clashes on the Muslim day of prayer.

A overnight curfew will be extended until 4pm and police will arrest those who take to the streets, even to go to mosques, sources in the prime minister's office and the Interior Ministry said after two days of sectarian violence between Shiites and minority Sunni Muslims.

Officials had been forecasting protest marches from both camps and US, UN and Iraqi leaders have been speaking out on the need for calm to prevent a descent into civil war.

The curfew will also affect the religiously mixed provinces of Salahaddin, Diyala and Babil to the north, east and south of the capital and the city's airport will be closed.

An official announcement would be made later, the sources said.






'No one should move,' one source said.

'Police will detain anyone who goes out, even to go to prayers.'

The draconian measure came as residents in at least two areas around the capital reported heavy clashes."