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Total curfew declared in Baghdad Total curfew declared in Baghdad
(20 minutes later)
The Iraqi government has declared an immediate curfew in the capital, Baghdad, to run until Sunday morning.The Iraqi government has declared an immediate curfew in the capital, Baghdad, to run until Sunday morning.
The move affects both vehicles and pedestrians, a spokesman for the Iraqi prime minister said.The move affects both vehicles and pedestrians, a spokesman for the Iraqi prime minister said.
The spokesman did not reveal why a curfew was being put in place, but sectarian violence and blasts have been increasing in recent days.The spokesman did not reveal why a curfew was being put in place, but sectarian violence and blasts have been increasing in recent days.
The brother-in-law of the new chief judge in Saddam Hussein's trial was shot dead in Baghdad late on Thursday.The brother-in-law of the new chief judge in Saddam Hussein's trial was shot dead in Baghdad late on Thursday.
The curfew order was announced on state broadcaster Iraqiya.The curfew order was announced on state broadcaster Iraqiya.
"The government has decided to enforce a curfew on vehicles and individuals starting from Friday evening until 0600 on Sunday morning (0200 GMT)," the message said."The government has decided to enforce a curfew on vehicles and individuals starting from Friday evening until 0600 on Sunday morning (0200 GMT)," the message said.
An unidentified official at the interior ministry told the Associated Press news agency that "intelligence information on the security situation" had made the announcement necessary.An unidentified official at the interior ministry told the Associated Press news agency that "intelligence information on the security situation" had made the announcement necessary.
'Spike'
US and Iraqi troops have been reinforcing operations against insurgents and sectarian militias in Baghdad.
On Wednesday a US military spokesman said Iraqi security forces were "making a concerted effort" to end the capital's sectarian violence by targeting death squads.
He also said that there had been a spike in violence coinciding with the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began on Monday, and that suicide attacks were at record levels.
Shortly after he spoke, 10 people were killed and 11 injured in a shoot-out at a Sunni mosque in the capital.
On Thursday, gunman ambushed a car carrying Kadhem Abdul Hussein, the brother-in-law of Judge Mohammad Oreibi al-Khalifa, who is presiding over Saddam Hussein's genocide trial.
Mr Abdul Hussein was killed outright and police said his son was injured.