Iraq's prime minister toured Baghdad's streets and visited police checkpoints Friday to showcase security ahead of an international conference aimed at stabilizing the country. According to the AP, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki toured a neighborhood and chatted with people, one of his advisers said.
Security was heightened across Baghdad as international envoys prepared to arrive for Saturday's conference. "Additional security measures have been taken to protect the officials participating in the conference and to secure the location of the meeting," said Brig. Abdul-Karim Khalaf, an Interior Ministry spokesman.
U.S. forces, meanwhile, killed a "suspected militant" and captured 16 others in raids across Iraq, the military said. Among those detained were a man accused of working in al-Qaeda's media wing and another believed to be responsible for kidnappings, beheadings and suicide attacks.
South of the capital, Shiite Muslims started holy rites in Karbala at the outset of a holiday that marks the end of a 40-day mourning period after the anniversary of the death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson.
Security was tightened around Karbala on Friday after authorities received an anonymous tip about possible suicide bombers sneaking into the city, said Abdul al-Aal al-Yassiri, head of Karbala's provincial council. Four million pilgrims were attending rites Friday, he said. Clerics disagree on whether Friday or Saturday should be the official anniversary, and Karbala's events were due to cover both days.
