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Baghdad gridlock after bomb scare Baghdad is gridlocked after raids
(about 5 hours later)
Iraqi security forces have been deployed en-masse in Baghdad, bringing the capital to a near standstill. At least 25 people who Iraqi authorities say were planning attacks in the capital have been arrested during a major anti-terror operation.
Security officials say the lockdown was imposed after they received intelligence that militants were planning attacks across Baghdad. Security officials said a total of 500kg of explosives was also seized during the raid in Baghdad.
Police have blocked off access to some roads and thoroughfares in the city. Iraqi security forces have been deployed in huge humbers, bringing the capital to a near standstill.
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. Security officials say the lockdown was imposed after a tip-off that militants were planning attacks across Baghdad.
Clampdowns of this sort have become rare in the past two years. Last month a series of car bombs in the capital killed more than 120 people.
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. Explosives cache
Clampdowns of this sort have become rare in the past two years but security has been tightened ahead of a crucial general election in March.
A total of 200kg of plastic explosive, an equal quantity of TNT and 250kg of ammonium nitrate were seized on Tuesday, reports said.
"Terrorist groups intended to detonate car bombs in Baghdad on Tuesday morning," Maj Gen Qassim Atta, spokesman for Baghdad's military command, said in an official statement.
"The security measures were imposed to protect civilians, which included shutting off many roads and taking steps to find the suspected cars," he added.
An unnamed official told the Associated Press news agency that if the government's claims were true about the amount of explosives seized, it would have been enough for multiple car bombs or a single, large truck bomb.
The BBC's Baghdad correspondent Jim Muir says the operation almost split the city in two by cutting off the many bridges across the River Tigris.
Assassination rumours
Little information about the clampdown was provided during the day, leading to rumours that a senior politician had been assassinated.
He later appeared at a press conference to deny there had been any attempt on his life.
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 many 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. There is a strong belief that more such attempts will be made with the approach of the general election in March, our correspondent says.