Vehicle ban in Baghdad for Shiite ritual

[rodeodance]

Source: ap





Vehicle ban in Baghdad for Shiite ritual

By DAVID RISING, Associated Press Writer 55 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - Iraq banned motorcycles, bicycles and horse-drawn carriages from the streets of Baghdad indefinitely on Saturday in advance of a major Shiite religious ceremony, the military said.


Earlier in the day, state television announced a ban on all vehicles in the Baghdad area. But military spokesman Brig. Gen. Qassim al-Mousawi later issued a clarification, saying cars would be allowed but other forms of transport that could slip into smaller places were banned until further notice.

He said the precaution was taken due to "intelligence information" that such modes of transport may be used in an attack.

News of the ban came hours after a car bomb killed seven people and wounded dozens near Baghdad's most important Shiite shrine. Sunni extremists have staged attacks in the past during Shiite festivals, which have drawn huge crowds since the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated regime.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070825/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=Ao3ujhLChIA8fixUk3R7JL.s0NUE

[bluerum]

1. WTF! This is actually a no brainer in my book.

" "intelligence information" that such modes of transport may be used in an attack."

They need an intelligence agency to tell them that car and vehicle bombs/weapons are popular in Iraq?!