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Fierce clashes break out in Basra Fierce clashes break out in Basra
(30 minutes later)
Heavy fighting has erupted in Iraq's southern city of Basra amid a major pre-dawn offensive by Iraqi security forces against rival Shia militias. Heavy fighting has erupted in Basra amid a major pre-dawn offensive by thousands of Iraqi troops against rival Shia militias in the southern city.
Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki is in Basra overseeing the operation, a day after he vowed to "re-impose law" in the oil-rich city, the UK military said. Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki is in Basra overseeing the operation, a day after he visited and vowed to "re-impose law", the UK military said.
Eyewitnesses speak of plumes of smoke, explosions, tanks and artillery.Eyewitnesses speak of plumes of smoke, explosions, tanks and artillery.
The British military, which returned control of Basra to the Iraqis in December, said it was not involved. Oil-rich Basra is in the grip of a turf war between armed groups, including the powerful Mehdi Army, say analysts.
A spokesman for UK forces, now based only at Basra airport, said the operation was being directed entirely by Iraqi troops and that Mr Maliki was overseeing it from a military base at an undisclosed location in the city. The BBC's Adam Brookes says three Iraqi army brigades were deployed from Baghdad to Basra for Tuesday's operation, and that up to 15,000 troops could be involved.
Security clampdownSecurity clampdown
Authorities in Basra have already imposed an indefinite night-time curfew because of the security situation. Coalition aircraft are patrolling the skies above Basra to help Iraqi forces if needed, British military spokesman Major Tom Holloway told the BBC.
The Iraqi army conducted raids across Basra on Tuesday, while routes into the city have been sealed off, according to reports. He said the UK military, which returned control of Basra to the Iraqis in December and concentrated its forces at the city airport, had no troops involved in the operation.
It was being directed by the Iraqis and Mr Maliki was overseeing it from an Iraqi military base at an undisclosed location in the city, the UK military said.
The Iraqi army conducted raids across Basra, while routes into the city have been sealed off, according to reports.
Officials at the city's hospitals said a number of wounded people had been brought in.Officials at the city's hospitals said a number of wounded people had been brought in.
A military official in Basra told Reuters news agency: "Basra is half empty. There are no vehicles and no one is going to work. People are afraid to go out."A military official in Basra told Reuters news agency: "Basra is half empty. There are no vehicles and no one is going to work. People are afraid to go out."
After Monday's curfew was imposed, the powerful Mehdi Army warned it would retaliate if its members were targeted in any security clampdown. It comes a day after the authorities in Basra imposed an indefinite night-time curfew.
The Mehdi Army warned on Monday it would retaliate if its members were targeted in any security clampdown.
The militia is loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr, who last month renewed a ceasefire the group had been observing since last August.The militia is loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr, who last month renewed a ceasefire the group had been observing since last August.
But it is reportedly in the middle of a turf war with rival Shia militias. Despite the ceasefire, there have been a number of assassinations and kidnappings in its Basra stronghold, as armed groups vie for control of lucrative oil-smuggling routes, say correspondents.
There have been a number of assassinations and kidnappings in its Basra stronghold.
Criminal gangs have been vying for control of lucrative oil-smuggling routes, say correspondents.
The oil fields in the Basra area are the source of most of Iraq's revenues.The oil fields in the Basra area are the source of most of Iraq's revenues.
The BBC's Adam Brookes says the operation appears to be aimed at loosening the grip of militias and criminal gangs on Iraq's most economically important city.
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