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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Iraqi police ambushed near Basra | Iraqi police ambushed near Basra |
| (4 days later) | |
| Gunmen have kidnapped and killed 17 policemen near the southern Iraqi city of Basra, police sources have said. | Gunmen have kidnapped and killed 17 policemen near the southern Iraqi city of Basra, police sources have said. |
| It is believed 15 of them were trainers instructing new recruits at a local police academy. Two were translators. | It is believed 15 of them were trainers instructing new recruits at a local police academy. Two were translators. |
| Their bodies were found scattered around Shuaiba, a town near Basra, some hours after their bus was ambushed. | Their bodies were found scattered around Shuaiba, a town near Basra, some hours after their bus was ambushed. |
| Correspondents say the killings will be a major setback to British plans for reducing the power of various militias in the area. | Correspondents say the killings will be a major setback to British plans for reducing the power of various militias in the area. |
| The minibus was taking the men from the police academy, which is under the supervision of British forces to Basra, 12km away, according to Reuters news agency. | The minibus was taking the men from the police academy, which is under the supervision of British forces to Basra, 12km away, according to Reuters news agency. |
| The bus was ambushed by armed men at around sunset on the outskirts of Shuaiba. They were shot in the head and chest. | The bus was ambushed by armed men at around sunset on the outskirts of Shuaiba. They were shot in the head and chest. |
| Basra police say the vehicle did not have armed protection, which is common in Iraq. | Basra police say the vehicle did not have armed protection, which is common in Iraq. |
| Pattern of attacks | Pattern of attacks |
| The BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad says this latest incident is part of a pattern of attacks over the past week in which 50 Iraqi police and soldiers have been held up and killed. | The BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad says this latest incident is part of a pattern of attacks over the past week in which 50 Iraqi police and soldiers have been held up and killed. |
| Translators and other personnel who leave military bases or police stations are vulnerable to attack by anybody who watches and waits for them, our correspondent says. | Translators and other personnel who leave military bases or police stations are vulnerable to attack by anybody who watches and waits for them, our correspondent says. |
| This menacing problem is at the heart of the tension between Washington and Baghdad, he says. | This menacing problem is at the heart of the tension between Washington and Baghdad, he says. |
| The Americans have been increasing pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister Jawad al-Maliki to neutralise the militias. | The Americans have been increasing pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister Jawad al-Maliki to neutralise the militias. |
| President Bush has said US patience is "not unlimited" and a timeline has been suggested of between a year and 18 months for the Iraqi government to establish its authority. | President Bush has said US patience is "not unlimited" and a timeline has been suggested of between a year and 18 months for the Iraqi government to establish its authority. |
| Mr Maliki says he could deal with the militias in six months if the army and the police had better weapons and training. | Mr Maliki says he could deal with the militias in six months if the army and the police had better weapons and training. |