AP Attacks surge in Iraq despite curfew

[rodeodance]

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060225/DEVELOPINGNEWS/60225025

Article published Saturday, February 25, 2006

Attacks surge in Iraq despite curfew

ASSOCIATED PRESS

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A car bomb exploded in a Shiite holy city and 13 members of one Shiite family were gunned down northeast of the capital today in a surge of attacks that killed at least 30 people despite heightened security aimed at curbing sectarian violence following the bombing of a revered Shiite shrine.

At least one more Sunni mosque was attacked in Baghdad today after two rockets were fired at a Shiite mosque in Tuz Khormato, north of the capital, the previous night. Shooting also broke out near the home of a prominent Sunni cleric as the funeral procession for an Al-Arabiya TV correspondent slain in sectarian violence was passing by. Police believed the procession was the target.

The violence occurred despite an extraordinary daytime curfew in Baghdad and three surrounding provinces. Stretched security forces could not be everywhere to contain attacks that have killed more than 150 people since Wednesday's shrine bombing and pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war.

Political and religious leaders were anxious to contain the violence unleashed by extremists on both sides, which have frozen efforts to form a new government that Washington considers essential if it is to reduce U.S. troop levels this year.......

[xchrom]

1. and they keep saying civil war hasn't broken out yet.

lemme know when it has.

[rodeodance]

2. RW is saying how well Iraqi security is working (keeping things calm)

[Rose Siding]

3. Can't tell if this expands the ban: Gov't Bans Traffic in Baghdad, Suburbs

Anyone know if "traffic" was included in the former curfew?

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The interior minister announced a 24-hour ban on all vehicular movements in Baghdad and its suburbs starting at 6 a.m. Sunday, in an effort contain sectarian violence following the bombing of a Shiite shrine three days ago in Samarra.

Interior Minister Bayan Jabr made the announcement during a press conference Saturday broadcast live by government television. The announcement came on athesecond straight day of a daylight curfew in Baghdad and three surrounding provinces.

Jabr said the daytime curfew will be lifted in the three provinces but said "there will be a ban on all vehicles inside Baghdad and its outskirts starting on Sunday Feb. 26, 2006 at 6 in the morning until 6 in the morning the following day."

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-iraq-vehicle-plan,0,1427312.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[Shelor]

4. Good God, how impotent can Shrub get?

[seriousstan]

5. If this gets as bad as the violence over the cartoon we are all in trouble