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| Baghdad gridlock after bomb scare | Baghdad gridlock after bomb scare |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Iraqi security forces have been deployed en-masse in Baghdad, bringing the capital to a near standstill. | Iraqi security forces have been deployed en-masse in Baghdad, bringing the capital to a near standstill. |
| Security officials say the lockdown was imposed after they received intelligence that militants were planning attacks across Baghdad. | |
| Police have blocked off access to some roads and thoroughfares in the city. | Police have blocked off access to some roads and thoroughfares in the city. |
| Last month a series of car bombs in Baghdad killed more than 120 people. Security has been tightened ahead of a crucial general election in March. | Last month a series of car bombs in Baghdad killed more than 120 people. Security has been tightened ahead of a crucial general election in March. |
| Clampdowns of this sort have become rare in the past two years. | Clampdowns of this sort have become rare in the past two years. |
| BBC Baghdad correspondent Jim Muir says the police have dismissed rumours that a senior politician had been assassinated and that the clampdown was purely preventative. | BBC Baghdad correspondent Jim Muir says the police have dismissed rumours that a senior politician had been assassinated and that the clampdown was purely preventative. |
| Official figures show that violence across the country has fallen in the past 18 months. | Official figures show that violence across the country has fallen in the past 18 months. |
| But in the past five months Baghdad has been rocked by a series of large suicide bombings near government targets, causing mass casualties. | But in the past five months Baghdad has been rocked by a series of large suicide bombings near government targets, causing mass casualties. |
| The Iraqi government has been criticised for its handling of security in the capital. Government officials blame the violence on members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party, working with al-Qaeda and other militant Sunni Arab groups. | The Iraqi government has been criticised for its handling of security in the capital. Government officials blame the violence on members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party, working with al-Qaeda and other militant Sunni Arab groups. |
| Jim Muir says there is a strong belief that more such attempts will be made with the approach of the general election in March. | Jim Muir says there is a strong belief that more such attempts will be made with the approach of the general election in March. |