In Iraq, an indefinite curfew was imposed in the capital city Baghdad today after two days of protests across the country that descended into violence and have left nine dead and around 400 wounded.<br />''<br />''Iraqi premier Adel Abdel Mahdi ordered the ban on movements across Baghdad early today to stem the popular demonstrations over widespread unemployment and state corruption.<br />''<br />''The tension has been exacerbated by a near-total Internet shutdown, the closure of government offices and at least one overnight explosion that hit the Green Zone, where some ministries and embassies are located. Since erupting in Baghdad on Tuesday, the protests have spread to other cities in the country's south.<br />''<span style="color: #222222;"><br />''Top United Nations official in Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert met with some protesters in Baghdad yesterday to call for direct dialogue between them and government officials.</span><br />