Iraqi govt bans all movement in capital

BAGHDAD, June 23 (Reuters) Iraq's government will impose a curfew in Baghdad today, from 2 pm local time until 6 am local time tomorrow, banning the movement of people and vehicles, state television reported.

There was already an 11 am to 3 pm local time ban on traffic in the capital.

Al Qaeda in Iraq, which has pledged to avenge the killing of its leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a US air strike two weeks ago, has launched bloody attacks in Baghdad despite a 10-day government crackdown.

Al Qaeda has attacked Shi'ite mosques as part of a campaign to spark a sectarian civil war. Fridays, when mosques are normally crowded during noon prayers, have been a favourite target of al Qaeda militants.

REUTERS SRS RS1447