IRAQ
COMMENTLINEHere are the latest developments out of Iraq:
President Bush reaffirms his belief that "as liberty spreads in the broader Middle East, freedom will replace despair and hope. And over time, the terrorist temptation will fall away."
Middle East leaders are worried violence will spill over into neighboring countries.
A strictly enforced daytime curfew works well to reduce the violence in Iraq. Authorities extend the daytime curfew through Saturday.
Rockets damage a Shia tomb south of Baghdad this afternoon.
Iraqi Religious Leaders Call for Peace
The new violence may effect troop withdrawal.
NEWSLINE"This is a moment of choosing for the Iraqi people." President Bush.
NEWSBYTESBush: U.S. Setting a 'Forward Strategy for Freedom'(washingtonpost.com) -- Saying that U.S. national security "depends on the advance of liberty in other nations," President Bush today offered a broad defense of his goal of spreading democracy worldwide and rejected the notion that his policies are "backfiring" in the Middle East.
Bush: Iraq at 'moment of choosing' WASHINGTON (AFP) -- US President George W. Bush said that Iraq faced "a moment of choosing" between sectarian violence and democracy but downplayed fears of civil war spurred by the bombing of a Shiite shrine.
Arab Leaders Concerned With Iraqi Violence, Rice SaysMiddle Eastern Nations Strongly Encouraging Sunnis to Participate in Iraqi Government, Secretary SaysSHANNON, Ireland, Feb. 24 (washingtonpost.com) -- Arab leaders are concerned that the sectarian violence erupting in Iraq may spill over into neighboring countries, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday after talks with senior officials in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Gulf Arab nations.
Curfew Halts Iraq Violence BAGHDAD, Feb. 24 (washingtonpost.com) -- A strict daytime curfew in the capital and three neighboring provinces on Friday sharply reduced the sectarian violence that has swept Iraq since the bombing of a Shiite Muslim shrine three days ago. But the country remained in crisis, as the prime minister appealed for unity and ordered the closure of all roads in and out of Baghdad.
Curfew extended to stem revenge attacksShiite leaders urge end to violence in wake of mosque bombing
BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Iraqi authorities announced another daytime curfew Saturday for Baghdad and its neighboring provinces, just as mortars struck near a shrine sacred to both Sunni and Shiite Muslims.
Curfew stalls Iraq bloodshedBAGHDAD (Reuters) -- A curfew in Baghdad and calls for Muslim unity at Friday prayers across Iraq eased sectarian violence that has raised fears of civil war but, amid clashes after dark, police banned cars from the roads for another day.
Rockets hit Iraq Shia tomb (Aljazeera.Net) -- Armed men have fired two rockets at a Shia tomb south of Baghdad causing damage but no casualties, a Shia official says.
Iraqi Religious Leaders Call for PeaceBAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Appeals from religious leaders and an unusual daytime curfew Friday curbed violence that claimed more than 140 lives across Iraq after the bombing of a Shiite shrine. President Bush joined in calling for calm, saying "This is a moment of choosing for the Iraqi people."
Iraq chaos threatens troop withdrawal (BBC) -- The chaos that has overtaken Iraq is now threatening hopes among the US and its allies that they might be able to start significant troop withdrawals in the coming months.
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