Monday, September 10, 2007
Night curfew to be eased in Baghdad during Ramadan
Security
(AFP) - Iraq will ease the nightly curfew in Baghdad during the holy month of Ramadan which begins this week, Brigadier General Qassim Atta, spokesman for the Baghdad security plan, said on Monday. Atta said the curfew in the capital would come into effect at midnight (2000 GMT) instead of 11.00 pm but would continue to be enforced until 5:00 am (0100 GMT). He added that the authorities had also decided to scrap the weekly vehicle curfew that usually applies between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm on Fridays, for the duration of the fasting month.
However, vehicles will not be allowed over the many bridges that span the Tigris River and link east and west Baghdad on the Muslim day of rest. The vehicle curfew was introduced to thwart insurgent attacks on worshippers observing the main weekly prayers. The announcement of the changes to the curfew came hours after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said that violence in Baghdad had fallen by 75 percent since the US military "surge" was launched in the capital on February 14.
However, vehicles will not be allowed over the many bridges that span the Tigris River and link east and west Baghdad on the Muslim day of rest. The vehicle curfew was introduced to thwart insurgent attacks on worshippers observing the main weekly prayers. The announcement of the changes to the curfew came hours after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said that violence in Baghdad had fallen by 75 percent since the US military "surge" was launched in the capital on February 14.
Labels: Baghdad, Brigadier General Qassim Atta, curfew, Ramadan
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Special Security Procedures During Ramadan
Security
(Al Mada Newspaper) - 5 SEP - An “Operation Enforcing the Law” spokesman has confirmed that Baghdad’s Operations Command has created a (special) security plan for the Ramadan period. It is likely that the curfew hours will be decreased during Ramadan [since Moslems must fast during Ramadan’s daylight hours, curfews will probably be rolled back to allow them to get food, etc. after sundown].
Yesterday, during a press conference in the Baghdad Convention Center, Brigadier General Qassim Atta said: Baghdad’s Operations Command often creates (new) security plans (for special circumstances)…and Ramadan’s security plan will be a good plan. He continued: the Security Force Commanders are considering “decreased curfew hours during the (Moslem) holy month of Ramadan”…however, he did not provide any further details.
Yesterday, during a press conference in the Baghdad Convention Center, Brigadier General Qassim Atta said: Baghdad’s Operations Command often creates (new) security plans (for special circumstances)…and Ramadan’s security plan will be a good plan. He continued: the Security Force Commanders are considering “decreased curfew hours during the (Moslem) holy month of Ramadan”…however, he did not provide any further details.
Labels: Brigadier General Qassim Atta, curfew, Ramadan
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Baghdad lockdown for religious festival
Security
(AFP) - All traffic will be banned in the war-torn Iraqi capital Baghdad this week to protect the Shiite pilgrims expected to throng a city shrine for a major festival, security forces said on Tuesday. The vehicle curfew will come into effect at 10 pm on Wednesday and last until 5 am on Saturday in an effort to secure the city during the anniversary the death of the Imam Musa Kadhim, Brigadier General Qassim Atta said.
In the Kadhimiyah district of the city, home to Kadhim's tomb and the centre of the celebrations, the curfew will begin on Tuesday night, he added. "The aim of the curfew is to deny terrorists and takfiri (sectarian extremists) any opportunity to strike," Atta, the chief spokesman of the Baghdad security plan, told state television. Atta said civilians would not be allowed to carry weapons and that the route that pilgrims will follow on foot to the shrine would be tightly controlled by Iraqi security forces.
Imam Kadhim was the seventh of the 12 Shiite imams and died in Baghdad in 799 after he was poisoned in prison. Every year tens of thousands of Shiite pilgrims mark his passing by visiting his tomb in Kadhimiyah.
Iraq is in the grip of sectarian war and previous pilgrimages have been marred by violence and accidents. In August 2005, at least 965 people were killed when fears of attack triggered a stampede on a Tigris river bridge.
In the Kadhimiyah district of the city, home to Kadhim's tomb and the centre of the celebrations, the curfew will begin on Tuesday night, he added. "The aim of the curfew is to deny terrorists and takfiri (sectarian extremists) any opportunity to strike," Atta, the chief spokesman of the Baghdad security plan, told state television. Atta said civilians would not be allowed to carry weapons and that the route that pilgrims will follow on foot to the shrine would be tightly controlled by Iraqi security forces.
Imam Kadhim was the seventh of the 12 Shiite imams and died in Baghdad in 799 after he was poisoned in prison. Every year tens of thousands of Shiite pilgrims mark his passing by visiting his tomb in Kadhimiyah.
Iraq is in the grip of sectarian war and previous pilgrimages have been marred by violence and accidents. In August 2005, at least 965 people were killed when fears of attack triggered a stampede on a Tigris river bridge.
Labels: Baghdad, Brigadier General Qassim Atta, curfew, Imam Musa Kadhim, Kadhimiyah, lockdown, religious festival, Shiite pilgrims
