Vehicle curfew imposed on Baghdad

An indefinite vehicle curfew was imposed on Baghdad from 6 p.m. (4 p.m. local time) yesterday to maintain security for an upcoming Shi'ite religious event, an Iraqi military spokesman said.

Brigadier-General Qassim al-Moussawi said in a statement carried on Iraqi television that the curfew was put in place to protect citizens ahead of a pilgrimage to mark the birth of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi, which falls early next week.

Tens of thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims are expected to converge on the southern holy Shi'ite city of Kerbala to mark the birth of the imam, a ninth century messiah-like figure whom Shi'ites believe will return to save mankind.

Such events are major targets for Al-Qaeda and other Sunni Arab militant groups. Pilgrims walking from Baghdad and other cities to Kerbala are often vulnerable to attack.

The last major Shi'ite religious ceremony was held in Baghdad's Kadhimiya neighbourhood earlier this month. A massive show of force by Iraqi security forces and three days of curfew in the capital ensured few casualties.