Admiral touts security sweeps

Despite the day’s attacks, Rear Adm. Mark Fox told reporters that the sweeps in Baghdad, to the south and in the city of Baqouba to the northeast had stemmed bloodshed in the capital.

The offensives are “making a difference on the ground. We have seen a significant drop in the number of civilians murdered in Baghdad, the overall levels of sectarian violence has decreased,” he said, without providing figures.