This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7312078.stm
The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Iraq forces battle Basra militias | Iraq forces battle Basra militias |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Heavy fighting has been raging in Basra as thousands of Iraqi troops battle Shia militias in the southern city. | Heavy fighting has been raging in Basra as thousands of Iraqi troops battle Shia militias in the southern city. |
| At least nine people have died in the operation, which is being overseen in Basra by Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki, a day after he vowed to "re-impose law". | At least nine people have died in the operation, which is being overseen in Basra by Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki, a day after he vowed to "re-impose law". |
| Tanks and artillery are being used - with British forces providing air support to the Iraqi troops. | Tanks and artillery are being used - with British forces providing air support to the Iraqi troops. |
| Oil-rich Basra is in the grip of a bitter turf war between armed groups, including the Mehdi Army, say analysts. | Oil-rich Basra is in the grip of a bitter turf war between armed groups, including the Mehdi Army, say analysts. |
| The Mehdi Army - which supports radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - called a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience against recent arrests of its followers. | The Mehdi Army - which supports radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - called a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience against recent arrests of its followers. |
| The powerful militia declared a truce last August which had been credited with helping restore stability to parts of Iraq. | The powerful militia declared a truce last August which had been credited with helping restore stability to parts of Iraq. |
| Air strikes | Air strikes |
| The BBC's Adam Brookes says three Iraqi army brigades were deployed from Baghdad to Basra as back-up for the operation, and that up to 15,000 troops could be involved. | The BBC's Adam Brookes says three Iraqi army brigades were deployed from Baghdad to Basra as back-up for the operation, and that up to 15,000 troops could be involved. |
| Coalition aircraft patrolling the skies above Basra have carried out air strikes to help the embattled Iraqi troops below. | Coalition aircraft patrolling the skies above Basra have carried out air strikes to help the embattled Iraqi troops below. |
| The raids come a day after a curfew was imposed in Basra | The raids come a day after a curfew was imposed in Basra |
| Some of the fiercest fighting in the operation - dubbed Saulat al-Fursan (Charge of the Knights) - has focused on Mehdi Army strongholds. | |
| Of the nine suspected militants known to have been killed so far, four died in street fighting and five in an air strike. | Of the nine suspected militants known to have been killed so far, four died in street fighting and five in an air strike. |
| British military spokesman Maj Tom Holloway told the BBC no UK troops were involved on the ground. | British military spokesman Maj Tom Holloway told the BBC no UK troops were involved on the ground. |
| The UK military returned control of Basra to the Iraqis in December and concentrated its forces at the city airport. | The UK military returned control of Basra to the Iraqis in December and concentrated its forces at the city airport. |
| The Iraqi commander in charge, Lt Gen Ali Ghaidan, said the operation aimed to purge Basra of what he called "outlaws". | The Iraqi commander in charge, Lt Gen Ali Ghaidan, said the operation aimed to purge Basra of what he called "outlaws". |
| He said his forces had confiscated weapons and roadside bombs during raids across Iraq's second city. | He said his forces had confiscated weapons and roadside bombs during raids across Iraq's second city. |
| Routes into Basra have been sealed off, according to reports. | Routes into Basra have been sealed off, according to reports. |
| Curfew | Curfew |
| One Basra resident told the BBC: "The streets are very dangerous, there's continuous exchange of fire in areas very close to my house, even though my neighbourhood is relatively safer than others." | One Basra resident told the BBC: "The streets are very dangerous, there's continuous exchange of fire in areas very close to my house, even though my neighbourhood is relatively safer than others." |
| The offensive comes a day after the authorities in Basra imposed an indefinite night-time curfew. | The offensive comes a day after the authorities in Basra imposed an indefinite night-time curfew. |
| Moqtada Sadr last month renewed its ceasefire, under which it pledged not to attack rival armed groups or American forces in Iraq. | Moqtada Sadr last month renewed its ceasefire, under which it pledged not to attack rival armed groups or American forces in Iraq. |
| But the truce is said to have come under strain in recent weeks as US and Iraqi forces detained militia members. | But the truce is said to have come under strain in recent weeks as US and Iraqi forces detained militia members. |
| On Tuesday, police also imposed a curfew in the southern Iraqi city of Kut, amid reports of clashes between gunmen and security forces. | On Tuesday, police also imposed a curfew in the southern Iraqi city of Kut, amid reports of clashes between gunmen and security forces. |
| In Baghdad's Sadr City, Mehdi Army fighters reportedly ordered Iraqi police and soldiers out of the district. | In Baghdad's Sadr City, Mehdi Army fighters reportedly ordered Iraqi police and soldiers out of the district. |
| Hundreds of protesters marched in Baghdad to launch a campaign of civil disobedience, calling on shops to shut. | Hundreds of protesters marched in Baghdad to launch a campaign of civil disobedience, calling on shops to shut. |
| Moqtada Sadr said in a statement: "We call upon all Iraqis to stage sit-ins all over Iraq as a first step. | Moqtada Sadr said in a statement: "We call upon all Iraqis to stage sit-ins all over Iraq as a first step. |
| "And if the people's demands are not respected by the Iraqi government, the second step will be to declare civil revolt in Baghdad and all other provinces." | "And if the people's demands are not respected by the Iraqi government, the second step will be to declare civil revolt in Baghdad and all other provinces." |
| In recent months there have been a number of assassinations and kidnappings in Basra, as armed groups vie for control of lucrative oil-smuggling routes, say correspondents. | In recent months there have been a number of assassinations and kidnappings in Basra, as armed groups vie for control of lucrative oil-smuggling routes, say correspondents. |
| The oil fields around the Basra area are the source of most of Iraq's revenues. | The oil fields around the Basra area are the source of most of Iraq's revenues. |
| Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |