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Iraq forces battle Basra militias Iraq forces battle Basra militias
(about 1 hour 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 12 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 30 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".
British forces have carried out air surveillance to support embattled Iraqi army tanks and artillery on the ground. Oil-rich Basra is in the grip of a bitter turf war between armed groups, including the Mehdi Army, analysts say.
Oil-rich Basra is in the grip of a bitter turf war between armed groups, including the Mehdi Army, say analysts. Clashes have spread to other parts of Iraq, including Baghdad's Sadr City, where the Mehdi Army fought rival Shia.
The Mehdi Army - which supports radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - called for a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience. The Mehdi Army - which supports radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - has threatened a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience.
Militias have taken over almost the city and law and order has collapsed, although it is not a hopeless case because the government is taking measures to reverse the situation Hoshyar ZebariIraqi Foreign Minister Shia strife threatens IraqWho are the Mehdi Army?
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.
Sealed off
The BBC's Adam Brookes says three Iraqi army brigades were deployed from Baghdad to Basra as back-up for the offensive, 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 offensive, and that up to 15,000 troops could be involved.
Basra is the lifeline of Iraq. Most of Iraq's oil exports go through Basra Hoshyar ZebariIraqi Foreign Minister Shia strife threatens IraqWho are the Mehdi Army?
Some of the fiercest fighting in the operation - dubbed Saulat al-Fursan (Charge of the Knights) - has focused on Mehdi Army strongholds.Some of the fiercest fighting in the operation - dubbed Saulat al-Fursan (Charge of the Knights) - has focused on Mehdi Army strongholds.
Of the suspected militants known to have been killed so far, four died in street fighting and five in a coalition air strike. British military spokesman Maj Tom Holloway told the BBC no UK troops were involved on the ground but its forces have carried out air surveillance to support Iraqi army tanks and artillery.
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.
Curfews have been imposed in several southern Iraqi cities
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".
Moqtada Sadr has threatened "general civil disobedience"
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.
One resident of the city 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 resident of the city 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 BBC's Paul Wood says the fighting in Basra can be seen as the government trying to impose law and order but also as part of the power struggle within the Shia community.
He says such intra-Shia violence could be just as dangerous to hopes of peace as sectarian hatreds or the insurgency.
CurfewCurfew
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.
On Tuesday, police also imposed curfews in the southern Iraqi cities of Kut and Nasiriya, amid reports of clashes there between gunmen and security forces. Police have now also imposed curfews in the cities of Kut, Samawa, Nasiriyah, Hilla and Diwaniyah.
Moqtada Sadr called in a statement for Iraqis to stage "sit-ins" and threatened to declare a "civil revolt" if attacks by US and Iraqi forces did not stop. Moqtada Sadr called for "general civil disobedience in Baghdad and the Iraqi provinces" if the attacks did not end.
In Baghdad's Sadr City, Mehdi Army fighters reportedly ordered Iraqi police and soldiers out of the district.
The raids come a day after a curfew was imposed in BasraThe raids come a day after a curfew was imposed in Basra
Hundreds of protesters marched in the Iraqi capital to launch a campaign of civil disobedience, calling on shops to shut. In Sadr City, Mehdi Army fighters reportedly ordered Iraqi police and soldiers out of the district and there have been clashes between rival militias.
Hundreds of protesters marched in the Iraqi capital, calling on shops to shut.
The Mehdi Army also took control of several areas in Kut, 175km (110 miles) south-east of Baghdad.
Moqtada Sadr last month renewed the group's ceasefire, under which it pledged not to attack rival armed groups or American forces in Iraq.Moqtada Sadr last month renewed the group's 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.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the BBC: "Militias have taken over almost the city and law and order has collapsed, although it is not a hopeless case because the government is taking measures to reverse the situation.Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the BBC: "Militias have taken over almost the city and law and order has collapsed, although it is not a hopeless case because the government is taking measures to reverse the situation.
"Remember, Basra is the lifeline of Iraq. Most of Iraq's oil exports go through Basra.""Remember, Basra is the lifeline of Iraq. Most of Iraq's oil exports go through Basra."
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