Curfew Imposed In Shiite Stronghold Of Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Aug 9 (AFP) - The Iraqi government Monday imposed a curfew in Baghdad's Shiite stronghold district of Sadr City from 4:00 pm (1200 GMT) to 8:00 am (0400 GMT), an interior ministry spokesman told AFP.
"The curfew will be on during this period till further notice," said spokesman Sabah Kahdim.
"The decision was taken after considering the security situation in Sadr City which has been witnessing violence in the last few days."
Earlier Monday, mortar bombs were fired at the district council hall in Sadr city from around 8:00 am (0400 GMT).
Missing the council hall, they slammed into neighbouring houses, but there were no reports of casualties.
Abu Moqtada, a local Mehdi Army leader, told AFP the militia had fired 10 to 15 mortars at the building.
"As long as we continue to fight with the government, incidents like this will happen," he told AFP.
Militiamen prowled the streets armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and an AFP correspondent saw four US tanks outside the district hall.