Mick Hartley

At the Beeb, voices from Baghdad:

Saadi, doctor, Al-Yarmouk hospital:

I have been working in this hospital for about eight months and the security situation has definitely improved during that time.

We used to receive about 10-15 injuries and five to 10 bodies overnight – caused by bombs or bullets.

The numbers have dropped to about two or three injuries a night and maybe just one body – or none.

This improvement started six to eight weeks ago.

I think it’s because the American and Iraqi troops have started to attack the Mehdi army. They have been arresting leaders of the Mehdi army and also al-Qaeda.

I live in the hospital with other doctors, so nobody kills us. We used not to go outside, now we are free to go outside anywhere we want.

I have seen many doctors leave for Sweden, Syria and Malaysia – but we do have enough medical staff, both doctors and nurses.

Murtada, Green Zone:

Generally, in Salihiya district, [near the Green Zone] and in Karrada district, shops are opening up, flowers are being planted in the streets, pavements are being laid, and roads are being repaired. People are also staying out at night later.

Today I was in Mansour district and I saw something new. It used to be really dangerous – but today people were out shopping and they looked different, more relaxed.

I think it’s mainly because both the American and Iraqi armies are working on it really hard. People are also fed up with terrorism.

Plus the Mehdi army has stopped its activities.

Thousands of people are returning to Iraq from Syria.

I was on the Syria-Iraqi border filming for a few days recently. During this time I could see up to 50 coaches a day coming back from Syria.

The people on board told me they felt it was safe enough to return – and they wanted to get back to their lives.