Baghdad turned orange by Enormous Sandstorm (Photos)

A thick layer of dust blanketed Baghdad today (22 May 2012) as one of the heaviest sandstorms in years hit the city a day before it is due to host global talks with Iran about nuclear weapons.

The sky turned an ominous orange as sand from the surrounding desert blew into the Iraqi capital and caused mayhem.

The international airport was closed, businesses were forced to shut and hundreds of residents – particularly those with asthma - went to hospital with breathing difficulties due to the choking air.

Hazy summer days: An Iraqi man stands in a Baghdad street, in an orange haze from a heavy dust storm a day before talks with Iran begin there.

The spring storm also appeared to hamper military flights.

None of the helicopter patrols that regularly roar over the city of six million people seemed to be airborne.

Sandstorms usually occur about twice a year in Baghdad, which is shielded from the desert by a thin strip of arable land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

But this latest one comes as a very unfortunate time as Iran and six world powers are due to meet in the city tomorrow for negotiations over Iran's nuclear intentions. The storm means envoys may struggle to reach the Iraqi capital.

Hidden: A man rides his donkey cart while everything else on the street is masked by the sandstorm

Glowing: Traffic snakes through Kahramana Square during the heavy sandstorm, which prompted the shutdown of Baghdad's airport

Masked: A traffic policeman directs vehicles while the thick, choking air makes it both hard to see and breathe

Disruption: Traffic slowly moves down a street a s man signals for a taxi to stop in a bid to escape the choking sandstorm

Caked: An Iraqi woman is barely discernible as she walks in a Baghdad street clogged with orange dust

Struggle: An Iraqi policeman wears a protective surgical mask as he mans a checkpoint

Hard going: Residents wear masks as they walk near Tahrir Square in central Baghdad.
Many business were closed due to the conditions

Contrasting fortunes: A woman with breathing difficulty uses an oxygen mask in hospital, left, while a boy makes some extra money selling masks in central Baghdad

Clogged: Men wear dust masks as they walk through one of Baghdad's main commercial districts

Keep on moving: Iraqis walk through Tahrir Square during a heavy sandstorm