Iraqi PM Details Security Plan For Baghdad

Al-Maliki said his plan for imposing order in Baghdad will be Iraqi-led, will coordinate police and army leadership in the city, and will target all lawbreakers without bias against Sunnis or Shi'a.

A lawmaker from the political group loyal to radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said his parliamentary bloc supports the plan.

Also today, one of Iraq's two vice presidents, Adil Abd al-Mahdi, said that winning the "war" in Baghdad will be crucial to ending the violence in the country. Speaking at a conference in Davos, Switzerland, al-Mahdi outlined plans for a security ring around Baghdad and called for more Iraqi troops there.

Meanwhile, deadly violence has continued in Baghdad, where bomb attacks at two markets killed at least seven people.

(compiled from agency reports)