Baghdad curfew to stem violence

[cal04]

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.

At least 130 people have been killed, according to official tallies, since a suspected al-Qaeda bomb destroyed the Golden Mosque in Samarra, north of Baghdad, one of Shiite Islam's holiest shrines. Dozens of Sunni mosques have been attacked in reprisals.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18257365%255E1702,00.html

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Let freedom reign!

When do we find out who the next Saddam is going to be?

[uppityperson]

2. Yesterdays news said people were stocking up on food, etc

Getting ready to stay home, locked inside for a while.

[saigon68]

3. FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH

I'll bet Bremer can't wait to get back

Maybe they'll let Lefty Lynndie out to use her leash again.

[NanceGreggs]

4. Yes, Freedom is on the march ...

... but only during certain hours, in pre-approved areas, under certain conditions.

Some restrictions may apply. Offer void where prohibited by law.

Some side effects may present themselves. Ask your doctor if CIVIL WAR is right for you!

[llmart]

5. LOL!

If this wasn't so pathetic and sad and our soldiers weren't getting blown to smithereens and coming back in body bags, it would be comical, but it's not.

Yeah, I'm sure that these people who are blowing up mosques and killing one another are going to say, "Oh, I guess I'll have to wait until another time when the curfew is lifted."

[saigon68]

12. That's the nature of Gorilla (sic) War

Do the dirty deeds when the time is right for a fast getaway.

[PurityOfEssence]

15. Yep, lockstep and jackbooted

Hey, why don't we just put 'em under curfew forever? That should work...

[LiberalVoice]

6. I'm sure Sunni and Shite muslims...

wont have any problem having AMERICANS tell them they wont be allowed to go to their mosques for friday prayer. :eyes:

[rodeodance]

7. daytime?===do they mean tomorrow (our time)?

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Yes - it's an Australian web page

so it's already Friday there.

[rodeodance]

10. thanks, I just found this also as I checked back here. (AP)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060223/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=AtkXtqvCP3.5gJ1mHE0b8x.s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

Iraq Implements Curfew to Stem Violence

By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 3 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Gunmen killed dozens of civilians Thursday and dumped their bodies in a ditch, as the government ordered a tough daytime curfew of Baghdad and three provinces to stem the sectarian violence that has left at least 114 dead since the bombing of a Shiite shrine.


Seven U.S. soldiers died in a pair of roadside bombings north of the capital, and American military units in the Baghdad area were told to halt all but essential travel to avoid getting caught up in demonstrations or roadblocks.

As the country careened to the brink of civil war, Iraqi state television announced an unusual daytime curfew, ordering people off the streets Friday in Baghdad and the nearby flashpoint provinces of Diyala, Babil and Salaheddin, where the shrine bombing took place.

Such a sweeping daytime curfew indicated the depth of fear within the government that the crisis could touch off a Sunni-Shiite civil war. "This is the first time that I have heard politicians say they are worried about the outbreak of civil war," Kurdish elder statesman Mahmoud Othman told The Associated Press.

[rodeodance]

11. says first time politians have uttered the words 'civil war'

. "This is the first time that I have heard politicians say they are worried about the outbreak of civil war," Kurdish elder statesman Mahmoud Othman told The Associated Press.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Do we even have the manpower in country to enforce

this sort of curfew?

[Born Free]

13. do you think they really want to?

It's possible, the bush team may now believe it's better to have them kill off each other. Oh the bush team will give the speeches, much like they say "clean air" when in reality they make it worse. I would not be surprised to learn the bush team was behind the bombing to stir up unrest between the different Muslim sects. Desperate times require desperate measures.

[mikeytherat]

14. Orwell Lives in Australia!

Headline:
Baghdad Curfew to Stem Violence

Written as if it is a foregone conclusion - the curfew will stop the violence!


First paragraph:
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.

The reality: "We really, really hope this will help."

mikey_the_rat

[wellst0nev0ter]

16. Nice Idea, Too Bad They Don't Have An ARMY To Implement It

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Shi'ite militiamen clashed with gunmen in southern Baghdad on Friday, leaving Iraqi security forces who are trying to enforce a curfew helpless to stop them, police sources said.

(snip)

But many thousands of Shi'ites flouted the curfew to throng to mosques in the sprawling Shi'ite slum of Sadr City, in the east of the capital, where support for Sadr runs high.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2129380

Please, someon, help me. Should I laugh or cry?