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Baghdad under anniversary curfew Baghdad under anniversary curfew
(about 5 hours later)
Baghdad has imposed a one-day vehicle curfew as a security measure for the fifth anniversary of the city's capture by American forces.Baghdad has imposed a one-day vehicle curfew as a security measure for the fifth anniversary of the city's capture by American forces.
Cars and motorcycles have been banned from the streets until midnight (2100 GMT), the Iraqi government said.Cars and motorcycles have been banned from the streets until midnight (2100 GMT), the Iraqi government said.
It is five years since US troops pulled down a large statue of the late Saddam Hussein in the city centre.It is five years since US troops pulled down a large statue of the late Saddam Hussein in the city centre.
Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr earlier called off plans for a mass anti-American rally, citing security concerns.Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr earlier called off plans for a mass anti-American rally, citing security concerns.
In Sadr City, Baghdad's main Shia district, Iraqi and US forces again clashed with militiamen loyal to Mr Sadr on Tuesday.In Sadr City, Baghdad's main Shia district, Iraqi and US forces again clashed with militiamen loyal to Mr Sadr on Tuesday.
Medical workers said at least 12 people had been killed.Medical workers said at least 12 people had been killed.
Key progress report
On Tuesday, the top US military leader in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, and the US ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, delivered a key progress report to the US Congress.
Gen Petraeus praised "significant", but "uneven" improvements in security, saying it was better than the situation at the time of his last report to Congress in September and significantly better than before the start of the US troop surge at the beginning of last year.
Gen Petraeus said Iraq's security improvement remains fragileBut while there had been real progress, it was "fragile and is reversible", he said.
He also said troop levels would need a period of evaluation over the summer.
The planned "drawdown" of about 20,000 troops should continue to July but afterwards there should be a 45-day "period of consolidation and evaluation", Gen Petraeus said.
The general and ambassador also came face to face with the three senators vying to succeed George W Bush as president this November as they were grilled by the Senate Armed Services Committee, then the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
John McCain, the Republicans' choice as candidate, was positive about the situation in Iraq while Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the rivals for the Democratic candidacy, pressed for withdrawal.
Political threatPolitical threat
A one-million-strong protest had been planned to mark the date, Mr Sadr said. In Baghdad, Moqtada Sadr said that a one-million-strong protest had been planned to mark the anniversary, but that he called it off, saying he feared there could be bloodshed.
He called it off, saying he feared there could be bloodshed. he also threatened to suspend a truce - credited with helping curb violence levels in Iraq since last year - by his powerful Mehdi Army militia.
Mr Sadr also threatened to suspend a truce - credited with helping curb violence levels in Iraq since last year - by his powerful Mehdi Army militia.
"If necessary the ceasefire will be lifted in order to implement our aims, ideology, religion, principles, nationhood," a statement said."If necessary the ceasefire will be lifted in order to implement our aims, ideology, religion, principles, nationhood," a statement said.
On Monday, Iraq's prime minister threatened to exclude the radical Shia cleric's movement from politics unless it disbanded the Mehdi Army.On Monday, Iraq's prime minister threatened to exclude the radical Shia cleric's movement from politics unless it disbanded the Mehdi Army.
In recent weeks, Mr Sadr's followers have clashed with Iraqi government troops and US forces in southern Iraq and Baghdad, as the government tried to crack down on militias. In recent weeks, Moqtada Sadr's followers have clashed with Iraqi government troops and US forces in southern Iraq and Baghdad, as the government tried to crack down on militias.