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Iraq forces battle Basra militias Iraq forces battle Basra militias
(40 minutes later)
Heavy fighting has been raging in Basra following a major pre-dawn offensive by thousands of Iraqi troops against rival Shia militias in the southern city.Heavy fighting has been raging in Basra following 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 visited and vowed to "re-impose law", the UK military said. Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki is in Basra overseeing the operation, a day after he visited and vowed to "re-impose security, stability and law".
Eyewitnesses speak of plumes of smoke, explosions, tanks and artillery. Eyewitnesses spoke of plumes of smoke, explosions, tanks and artillery.
Oil-rich Basra is in the grip of a turf war between armed groups, including the powerful Mehdi Army, say analysts.Oil-rich Basra is in the grip of a turf war between armed groups, including the powerful Mehdi Army, say analysts.
The BBC's Adam Brookes says three Iraqi army brigades were deployed from Baghdad to Basra as back-up for Tuesday's 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 Tuesday's operation, and that up to 15,000 troops could be involved.
Security clampdown 'Charge of the Knights'
Coalition aircraft are patrolling the skies above Basra to help Iraqi forces if needed, British military spokesman Maj Tom Holloway told the BBC.Coalition aircraft are patrolling the skies above Basra to help Iraqi forces if needed, British military spokesman Maj Tom Holloway told the BBC.
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.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.
The raids come a day after a curfew was imposed in BasraThe raids come a day after a curfew was imposed in Basra
It was being directed by the Iraqis and Mr Maliki was supervising it from an Iraqi military base at an undisclosed location in the city, the UK military said.It was being directed by the Iraqis and Mr Maliki was supervising 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. Some of the fiercest fighting has reportedly involved the Mehdi Army, which is loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr.
Officials at the city's hospitals said a number of wounded people had been brought in. The Iraqi army have been conducting raids across Basra, while routes into the city have been sealed off, according to reports.
At least four people had been killed and 18 wounded in the clashes, police Maj Abbas Youssef told AFP news agency. Officials at the city's hospitals said a number of casualties had been brought in.
Curfew
At least four people had been killed and 18 wounded in the operation, which has been dubbed Saulat al-Fursan (Charge of the Knights), police told AFP news agency.
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."
It 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.
The Mehdi Army warned on Monday it would retaliate if its members were targeted in any security clampdown. The Mehdi Army called on Monday for a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience in protest at arrests of its followers.
The militia is loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr, who last month renewed a ceasefire the group had been observing since last August. Moqtada Sadr last month renewed a ceasefire the militia had been observing since last August, under which it pledged not to attack rival armed groups or American forces in Iraq.
Under the truce, the militia pledged not to attack rival armed groups or American forces in Iraq.
US military officials have publicly recognised the impact of the move in helping to stabilise parts of the country.US military officials have publicly recognised the impact of the move in helping to stabilise parts of the country.
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. But the truce is said to have come under strain in recent weeks as US and Iraqi forces detain militia members they accuse of belonging to renegade factions.
And 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 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.
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