Iraq tears down blast walls

Downtown Baghdad is getting a facelift.

On Saturday, construction crews pulled down hundreds of concrete blast walls, like this one, erected in the wake of the 2003 U.S. invasion.

The barricades have divided the Iraqi capital for much of the last decade and military officials say their removal is a sign that security is returning to the war-ravaged country.

Residents were happy with the removal of this particular wall, which had hemmed in a popular market.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HUSSEIN ABID, AN IRAQI CITIZEN, SAYING:

"God willing the market will opene and economic activity increase and improve. We hope this initiative will be good for people and the country."

While 400 wall sections were removed, many others remain and violence continues to plague Iraq.

At least 36 people died on April 19 alone when more than 20 bombs rocked towns and cities across the country.

Andrew Raven, Reuters