Downtown Baghdad is getting a facelift.<br/> <br />On Saturday, construction crews pulled down hundreds of concrete blast walls, like this one, erected in the wake of the 2003 U.S. invasion.<br/> <br />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.<br/> <br />Residents were happy with the removal of this particular wall, which had hemmed in a popular market.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HUSSEIN ABID, AN IRAQI CITIZEN, SAYING:<br/> <br />"God willing the market will opene and economic activity increase and improve. We hope this initiative will be good for people and the country."<br/> <br />While 400 wall sections were removed, many others remain and violence continues to plague Iraq.<br/> <br />At least 36 people died on April 19 alone when more than 20 bombs rocked towns and cities across the country.<br/> <br />Andrew Raven, Reuters
