Baghdad's streets are almost deserted after Iraq's government put the capital and three provinces under curfew to halt sectarian violence.
At least 130 people - mostly Sunnis - have died since the al-Askari shrine, holy to Shias, was bombed on Wednesday.
In protest at the unrest, Sunni politicians have pulled out of emergency talks with the government.
The curfew began on Thursday evening and will last until late afternoon on Friday, the Muslim day of prayer.
It left the centre of Baghdad eerily quiet on Friday morning, the BBC's Jon Brain in the city says.
Hundreds of police officers are manning checkpoints and turning back motorists attempting to cross the city.
However, people are being allowed to walk to mosques in their local areas.
hey cool innit. ban them from going to jumah. very good. :rant:
Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one calling to Faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed.
Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and expiate from us our evil deeds, and make us die (in the state of righteousness) along with Al-Abrar
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