(RFE/RL)
February 13, 2007 -- Iraq says it will close its borders with Iran and Syria for three days and extend the hours of night curfew in the capital, Baghdad.
The announcement was made on state television by General Abud Qanbar, the Iraqi commander of a new U.S.-backed security operation to rein in violence in Baghdad.
Qanbar said Baghdad's night vehicle curfew would start three hours earlier than the current 11 p.m.
The announcement followed two days of bloody bomb attacks in Baghdad and came amid accusations by U.S. defense officials that Iran was supplying bombs to Shi'ite insurgents in Iraq.
Under the security plan, U.S. troops and Iraqi forces are to patrol Baghdad's neighborhoods in an attempt to root out insurgents and disarm militias blamed for sectarian attacks.
(Reuters, AFP)
Qanbar said Baghdad's night vehicle curfew would start three hours earlier than the current 11 p.m.
The announcement followed two days of bloody bomb attacks in Baghdad and came amid accusations by U.S. defense officials that Iran was supplying bombs to Shi'ite insurgents in Iraq.
Under the security plan, U.S. troops and Iraqi forces are to patrol Baghdad's neighborhoods in an attempt to root out insurgents and disarm militias blamed for sectarian attacks.
(Reuters, AFP)