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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| UK may return to Iraq crisis city | UK may return to Iraq crisis city |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| British troops are getting ready to re-enter the southern Iraqi city of Amara, following serious clashes between militias and local police. | British troops are getting ready to re-enter the southern Iraqi city of Amara, following serious clashes between militias and local police. |
| The Army could return there just two months after it pulled out if the Amara authorities ask for help, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. | |
| Clashes between police and up to 300 gunmen have been reported. | Clashes between police and up to 300 gunmen have been reported. |
| While the MoD described the situation as "calm but tense", Amara's council denied militias had "overrun" the city. | |
| The MoD pulled all UK troops out of Amara in August because the security situation was "relatively quiet" there. | |
| Iraqi forces took over security in the city - in the Maysan province - and British troops were given other responsibilities in the surrounding area. | |
| A spokeswoman for the MoD said it would be keeping a "close watch" on developments in Amara. | |
| At least 12 people have died in clashes between gunmen loyal to the radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr and local police. | |
| The UK military has been making moves to hand over power to Iraqi forces in Maysan, following transfers of power in Dhi Qar and Muthanna provinces earlier this year. | |
| Basra and Maysan are the only two provinces still under British control. |