Iraq reopens Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone to traffic

STORY: Iraq reopens Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone to traffic DATELINE: Jan. 8, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:14 LOCATION: Baghdad CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Baghdad's Green Zone STORYLINE: The Iraqi authorities decided on Sunday to reopen the entrances and streets to traffic in the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad. The decision was made under the directives of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, Mohammed Mahmoud from Baghdad traffic police told Xinhua. The gates of Green Zone now open from 5 a.m. (0200 GMT) to 7 p.m. (1600 GMT) local time, Mahmoud said, adding the decision came as a result of the improvement of the security situation in the Iraqi capital and for the purpose of reducing the traffic congestion. "The opening of blocked streets inside the Green Zone and continuing removal of security checkpoints from many areas in Baghdad will contribute to reducing traffic congestion by about 40 percent," he noted. Nestl