In Baghdad, some Iraqi National Guard troops are involved in ilegal rackets to profit from the fuel shortage, Slogger sources say. A fuel scarcity has gripped the capital -- indeed all of Iraq -- for weeks. All over the city, some Guard officers allow gasoline retailers to sell fuel out of cans in the streets -- at three times the regular price -- instead of selling it at the normal rate in their petrol stations. Those Guard officers involved in protecting these practices take a cut of the artificially high profit, even though the government had issued a resolution to make this practice punishable.

Heavy operations continue in some areas, especially in areas associated with the Mahdi Army. Yet many neighborhoods report a quieter day today, with the Friday holiday.

Some of the Mahdi Army came back to their areas in Karkh (western Baghdad), but were unarmed. However, the militia members distributed leaflets warning Sunnis against abusing the local Shi'a population.

In the Hurriya district, in northern Baghdad, Americans had arrested 55 members of Mahdi Army militia, while in Sha'ab, an American raid on Al-Shurufi Mosque incurred the ire of the Sadrists, according to local sources.

In the Allawi area, Mahdi Army supporters were cruising around in a pickup truck, ;with several members acting rowdy in the bed of the truck. At a checkpoint, an Iraqi security officer warned them that they would be arrested next time he saw them doing this, and they quieted down, eyewitnesses say.

On Thursday the Americans surrounded Sadr City area and residents report hearing heavy bombing. Sadr City's inhabitants told Slogger sources that they are concerned about what the “joint security center” that the US will soon establish in the neighborhood will mean for them.

In Shurta area, near Bayya', the market had been closed for months when because of snipers targeting people in the streets. At the beginning of the security plan, the Iraqi National Guard caught one of the snipers and the market began to reopen. However, two days ago, another sniper has appeared and the market may close again, Slogger sources report.

The Americans are distributing forms that ask people about the level of services in Baghdad al-Jadida and Baladiyat, according to eyewitnesses.

In al-Yarmouk district, one of the two checkpoints in the main street comes under sniper attacks every few days. The shooter remains at large, Slogger sources say.

In Karrada, an area mostly inhabited by Shi'a and Christians, and under the control of the SCIRI, residents pelted Kurdish Pesh Merga troops in the street with rocks, according to eyewitnesses.