Baghdad - Amid reports of an Iraqi government effort to snuff out an alleged Baathist resurgence within government ranks, I spotted Iraqi troops carrying RPG launchers on two Baghdad street corners today near the Mansour Hotel and the Iranian embassy.

The area is just a few blocks from the Green Zone that is home to the Iraqi government and the US embassy.

Baghdad residents say while a heavy security presence in the heart of the city is routine, it's highly unusual, if not unprecedented, for Iraqi soldiers to stand on downtown street corners with RPG launchers in hand.