Violent clashes have continued in Baghdad’s main Shia district
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Baghdad has imposed a one-day vehicle curfew as a security measure for the fifth anniversary of the city’s capture by American forces.
Cars and motorcycles have been banned from the streets until midnight (2100 GMT), the Iraqi government said.
It is five years since US troops pulled down a large statue of the late Saddam Hussein in the city centre.
Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr earlier called off plans for a mass anti-American rally, citing security concerns.
In Sadr City, Baghdad’s main Shia district, Iraqi and US forces again clashed with militiamen loyal to Mr Sadr on Tuesday.
Medical workers said at least 12 people had been killed.
Political threat
A one-million-strong protest had been planned to mark the date, Mr Sadr said.
He called it off, saying he feared there could be bloodshed.
Mr Sadr also threatened to suspend a truce – credited with helping curb violence levels in Iraq since last year – by his powerful Mehdi Army militia.
“If necessary the ceasefire will be lifted in order to implement our aims, ideology, religion, principles, nationhood,” a statement said.
On Monday, Iraq’s prime minister threatened to exclude the radical Shia cleric’s movement from politics unless it disbanded the Mehdi Army.
In recent weeks, Mr Sadr’s followers have clashed with Iraqi government troops and US forces in southern Iraq and Baghdad, as the government tried to crack down on militias.
