Baghdad bridge opens, curfew ends
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The 14th of July bridge was being reopened Saturday afternoon.
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BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Coalition authorities will lift the nighttime curfew in Baghdad and reopen the main bridge across the Tigris River in efforts to ease conditions for the city's 5 million people, U.S. and Iraqi officials said.
A statement by the Baghdad city council said the curfew would be lifted at 4 a.m. (0100 GMT) Sunday. In a separate statement, authorities said they would reopen the 14th of July Bridge Saturday afternoon.
"The curfew can be lifted due to the reduction in the crime rate in the city and the overall improvement in the security situation," the statement said. "Despite some highly publicized attacks by terrorists and supporters of the former regime, the overall security situation in Baghdad has improved."
The move was timed for the start of Ramadan, which may start Sunday. Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, begins with the sighting of a new moon and lasts for four weeks.
Last month, the coalition relaxed the start of the curfew by one hour. Since then, the curfew has begun at midnight and ended at 4 a.m.
"Lifting the curfew is a great step forward for the people of Baghdad during the blessed month of Ramadan," the council statement said.
"It reflects the ability and willingness of all the good people of Baghdad to watch out for each other and protect the community from those who wish to bring harm to the city."
The statement urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspected criminal or terrorist activity to the Iraqi Police or coalition authorities.
Most Iraqi cities no longer have a curfew.
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