Private sources confirmed the change to raise the alert status of all deployed security forces inside the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad.
Sources said the anti-terrorism forces deployed numerous checkpoints reinforced by soldiers and military vehicles inside the Green Zone were all tanks and armored vehicles stationed inside the fortified area processing.
The sources added that the stringent security measures taking place in the Green Zone, which houses the prime minister and the House of Representatives and the Supreme Judicial as well as US and British embassies and a number of Western and Arab embassies comes in anticipation of any emergency, especially in conjunction with the continued sit-ins in front of the fortified area gates.
The sources pointed out that the elements of heavily armed special forces weapons deployed at checkpoints scattered remarkably in the Green Zone as the sniper teams deployed on high-rise buildings and military helicopters continue to fly in low over the heavily fortified area and other areas in Baghdad.