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Iraqi, US forces Step Up Baghdad Security Crackdown
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1640503:A6F02AD83191E1602497710CFC16F4DF9574F7DCC14957C0 Iraqi Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced official beginning of new security
plan Wednesday Iraqi and U.S. forces have stepped up joint patrols in
Baghdad as part of a new security crackdown to stem sectarian and
insurgent violence in the city.







Nouri al-Maliki speaks in Karbala, 14 Feb 2007Troops set up new
checkpoints across the city and started search and clearing operations
Wednesday, when Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced the
official beginning of the new security plan.

A top Iraqi military officer involved in the plan said the country's
borders with Iran and Syria will be sealed for 72 hours as part of the
crackdown.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military is standing by its assertion that radical
Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has gone to Iran. But Sadr aides insist
the Shi'ite leader is in Iraq and has reduced public appearances for
security reasons.

In other developments, the U.S. military says six U.S. soldiers have
been killed in a series of incidents since Tuesday.

Also, U.S. Major General William Caldwell says "sophisticated
weaponry" brought down a U.S. Marine helicopter last week in al-Anbar
province. The crash killed all seven U.S. personnel on board.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, Reuters and AFP


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