Night-time curfew for Baghdad

2004-11-09 15:04

Baghdad - Iraq's interim government on Tuesday announced that a night-time curfew will be imposed on Baghdad and surrounding areas until further notice amid escalating violence in the country.

The draconian measure came a day after Prime Minister Iyad Allawi slapped an indefinite curfew on the rebel hub of Fallujah, before giving United States-led troops the authority to storm the Sunni Muslim bastion.

It also followed a decision on Sunday to declare a state of emergency across most of Iraq, which gives the US-backed government extraordinary security powers.

"According to the authority given to us under the emergency law we have decided to impose a curfew on Baghdad and its outskirts from 22:30 until 04:00 from this evening until further notice," the prime minister's office said in a statement.

Asked whether the measure would also include the notorious district of Sadr City in north-east Baghdad, a spokesperson at Allawi's office said: "The measure is for all of Baghdad." - AFP

- SAPA