Mosul a ghost town, reports say

MOSUL, Iraq, May 15 (UPI) -- Local reports from the northern Iraqi city of Mosul describe the area as a veritable ghost town as Iraqi forces target al-Qaida operatives there.

Iraqi forces, accompanied by their U.S. military advisers, entered Mosul during the weekend in a long-expected raid code-named Mother of the Two Springs, the Iraqi daily Azzaman said Thursday.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his national security adviser, Muwafaq al-Rubaie, personally traveled to Mosul to oversee military operations there.

Residents said troops were apparent on the streets and reported military aircraft circling overhead, but there were no reports of gunmen in the streets.

Reports in the Iraqi media said government officials lifted a curfew in the area, but citizens interviewed by Azzaman said the streets were empty because of fear of roadside bombs and booby traps.

Ahmad Mahmoud with the Mosul general hospital said this has left the streets of Mosul largely abandoned except for the military presence.

"Anyone visiting the city would doubt whether there is life in it," he said.