Here, Baghdad resident Ahmed Ismael talks about his morning.

Ahmed Ismael owns a shop in Baghdad's al-Ameriah district

I was forced to move to Baghdad after the assault on Falluja in November 2004. I own a small shop in the al-Ameriah district, where I sell perfumes and clothes. I'm married with four children. Omar is the eldest, Ismael and Nuna are in the middle and Mohammed is the youngest.

In the morning, I'm woken by Mohammed. I call him my alarm clock.

I wake up the other kids and the rest of the family. I'm used to having everyone around me during breakfast - without them I can't eat.

Prayers

Here in Baghdad my life is upside down. I have a small kitchen now, and can only use it for cooking. There's no space for a table to sit at, so we have to eat breakfast in the living room.

We all sit around and eat together. Cookies, eggs - I like to have eggs every day - and milk.

I say my prayers, then I'll play with the children, because I know they need a change of atmosphere.

The roads are full of humps and bumps and you never know when your tyre will hit a pothole Ahmed Ismael

I feel the kids are tired, worn out, so I try to make it up to them.

I play football or cards with them, or jump around with them as much as I can. I try to create as normal a life as possible and make them feel alive and active.

It's very dangerous in the streets, for young and old. These days, when you go out three-quarters of the streets are blocked.

Highways are blocked because most of the forces - foreign and Iraqi - use them. The inner streets are busier because of that.

Of course, we do see scenes that are quite painful on the way. Even on the inner streets. Sometimes, the US forces appear there, but we try to avoid them.

Baghdad in the morning used to have a special feel, everywhere was very clean.

I'm not a Baathist, but now there are no lights in the streets. The roads are full of humps and bumps and you never know when your tyre will hit a pothole, or broken bits of the street.

Aggression

Sending the children to school is a big problem for everyone. My two sons had started school in Falluja, but since we moved to Baghdad I can't let them go to school. The security situation is too unstable.

I'm one of those parents who hopes that his children can live a settled, quiet and peaceful life, away from the killing scenes and murder and blood Ahmed Ismael

It's sad, and it hurts me to think that they have lost a year of education. But I try to make it up to them. My sister is a teacher and she helps them.

I park the car near the shop, just to make sure it's safe. Then I say a few prayers, asking Allah to bless me with an income. I start my day naming Allah as much as I can to help me earn money.

At the moment, we see nothing but darkness and sadness and depression everywhere, as well as discomfort and danger.

We don't feel safe, neither at home nor in the streets.

I'm one of those parents who hopes that his children can live a settled, quiet and peaceful life, away from the killing scenes and murder and blood.

I want them to be far from the pictures of aggression and depression. I wish they could live a better life than ours and give this country their best in the future.

All we need are people's prayers.