Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced the heavily-fortified area in central Baghdad known as the Green Zone open to all citizens on Sunday.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The so-called Green Zone in the center of the capital is housing government buildings and foreign missions.
“The opening of the Green Zone is part of a reform drive promised to our citizens. The process of reform is moving forward, and we will not back down,” Abadi wrote on Twitter.
The territory was closed to the Iraqi people for security reasons after the invasion of coalition forces led by the United States and the United Kingdom in 2003.
Despite the fortification measures, this area has often been the target of terrorist attacks.

Another milestone achievement this evening in line with commitment to reform as the Green Zone in Baghdad is opened to the public

— Haider Al-Abadi (@HaiderAlAbadi) October 4, 2015