BAGHDAD ON LOCKDOWN TIL SUNDAY MORNING
UPDATE: Apparently this isn’t the first coup attempt.
The Iraqi military was planning a coup. I believe this is the reason for the shutdown. Things are going great there, eh?
By Peter Graff
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq’s government shut down the capital with a one-day curfew on Saturday, ordering all cars and pedestrians off the streets, but giving no reason for the measure.
The curfew would remain in place until 6:00 a.m. (0200) on Sunday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s office said in a one- line statement. The U.S. military did not comment.
The announcement came after a week of clashes and bombings heralded the start of the holy month of Ramadan. U.S. commanders say the past week saw a record number of suicide bombings and the last two weeks have seen a surge in violence.
Although no explanation was given for the curfew, residents of the Adamiya neighbourhood in the north of the capital said they heard gunfire and explosions near dusk on Friday.
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