Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 30, 2007

Iraq Security Forces Brace for Anniversary of Saddam Execution
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1ABF598:A6F02AD83191E160AB8DF9B7C79E81FAB3350E090FE6A6E8& Saddam loyalists
gathered at his grave in Ouja, the deposed dictator's birthplace,
while security forces in the nearby city of Tikrit prepared for any
demonstrations





Iraqi soldier controls traffic at checkpoint near al-Sinak bridge,
central Baghdad, 29 Dec 2007Iraqi security forces are on high alert in
Baghdad and other parts of Iraq Sunday on the first anniversary of the
execution of Saddam Hussein, who was ousted from power in 2003 by a
U.S.-led coalition.

Saddam loyalists gathered at his grave in Ouja, the deposed dictator's
birthplace, while security forces in the nearby city of Tikrit
prepared for any demonstrations.

The village of Dawr, just south of Tikrit, where Saddam was captured
hiding in a hole four years ago, is under indefinite curfew.

Saddam's hanging plunged Iraq into a bloody cycle of violence between
Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims, but U.S. and Iraqi commanders say the
security situation in Iraq has improved this year.

General David Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, told
reporters Saturday there were fewer attacks and civilian deaths during
2007.  However, he also warned that those gains could be reversed.

In a separate announcement, an Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman said
75 percent of al-Qaida's terrorist network in Iraq was destroyed
during the past 12 months.

Speaking in Baghdad, the spokesman Abdul Kareem Khalaf said increased
patrols by Iraqi forces have pushed back al-Qaida's forces to such an
extent that their activity is now limited to areas north of the
capital.



Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP .




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