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Baghdad under anniversary curfew Attacks mark Baghdad anniversary
(about 2 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. At least six people have been killed in mortar attacks in Baghdad on 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. The attacks, in the Sadr City district of the city, came as the capital observed a vehicle curfew.
Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr had called for a mass anti-American rally, but cancelled it amid security concerns.
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. Witnesses and officials told the BBC that one mortar exploded at a funeral wake, killing one person and wounding unknown others.
In Sadr City, Baghdad's main Shia district, Iraqi and US forces again clashed with militiamen loyal to Mr Sadr on Tuesday. A second mortar landed on a building, killing five.
Medical workers said at least 12 people had been killed. Baghdad's Green Zone, which houses diplomatic missions and much of Iraq's government, also came under mortar fire but there are no reports of injuries.
Key progress report Cars and motorcycles have been banned from the streets until midnight (2100 GMT), the Iraqi government said.
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. People have been mostly staying at home, reports say.
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. Clashes overnight in Sadr City between Iraqi and US forces and militiamen loyal to the cleric left at least 12 people dead, medical workers said.
Gen Petraeus said Iraq's security improvement remains fragileBut while there had been real progress, it was "fragile and is reversible", he said. Fragile truce
He also said troop levels would need a period of evaluation over the summer. Moqtada Sadr had said that a one-million-strong protest was planned to mark the anniversary, but he called it off, saying he feared there could be bloodshed.
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. Gen Petraeus said Iraq's security improvement remains fragile
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. He also threatened to suspend a truce - credited with helping curb violence levels in Iraq since last year - by his powerful Mehdi Army militia.
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 threat
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 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 he disbanded the Mehdi Army.
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.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.
On Tuesday, the top US military leader in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, told US Congress that any progress recently made in Iraq were "fragile and is reversible".
He recommended a suspension of US troop withdrawals after July to protect security gains made during the Iraq "surge", which saw an increase in US forces.
After the planned "drawdown" of about 20,000 troops, there should be a 45-day "period of consolidation and evaluation", Gen Petraeus said.