Iraq orders indefinite traffic ban in restive province
BAQUBA, Iraq (AFP) — The Iraqi army ordered an indefinite ban on vehicle traffic from Friday morning across Diyala province, north of the capital, one of the most dangerous areas of the country.
"Owing to the bad security situation in Diyala province, the Diyala operations command will impose an indefinite vehicle curfew on Friday all over the province from the morning," provincial military operations chief Brigadier General Raghib al-Omeiri announced in a statement late Thursday.
The provincial capital Baquba has been hit by a spate of shootings, suicide attacks and roadside bombings in recent days.
US assistant commander in chief for northern Iraq Brigadier General James Boozer told a news conference on Wednesday that the Diyala towns of Baquba and Muqdadiyah were the key areas of violence in Iraq, along with the main northern city of Mosul.
He added that between 2,000 and 3,000 Sunni insurgents had turned against Al-Qaeda in Diyala and joined forces with US troops in militia groups known as Awakening Councils -- a move which has helped reduce overall levels of violence.
