| Iraq's international airport in Baghdad will remain closed for commercial flights until further notice, the office of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said on Saturday. Allawi on Monday decided to shut the airport for 48 hours after he declared a state of emergency in a desperate bid to curb unrest engulfing the country. On Wednesday, he extended the closure for another 24 hours. Attacks against symbols of the United States-backed government and security forces have spiked since US and Iraqi forces invaded the rebel epicentre of Fallujah on Monday in a bid to regain control. Curfews have also been imposed on several cities, including Baghdad. |
