"Yes, this is for us to prepare our movements and our work to confront the enemy and crush him," Sahhaf told reporters.

He said the ban prevented people from going in or out of Baghdad for 12 hours, starting at 6:00 pm (1400 GMT) every day.

US forces were closing in on Baghdad on Sunday ahead of an expected final push on President Saddam Hussein's seat of power.

SPACE.WIRE