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Iraq forces battle Basra militias Iraq forces battle Basra militias
(40 minutes 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 nine 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 nine 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".
Tanks and artillery are being used - with British troops providing air support to the Iraqi troops. Tanks and artillery are being used - with British forces providing air support to the Iraqi troops.
Oil-rich Basra is in the grip of a bitter turf war between armed groups, including the Mehdi Army, say analysts.Oil-rich Basra is in the grip of a bitter turf war between armed groups, including the Mehdi Army, say analysts.
The Mehdi Army has called a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience in protest at arrests of its followers. The Mehdi Army - which supports radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - called a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience against recent arrests of its followers.
'Charge of the Knights' The powerful militia declared a truce last August which had been credited with helping restore stability to parts of Iraq.
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. Air strikes
The BBC's Adam Brookes says three Iraqi army brigades were deployed from Baghdad to Basra as back-up for the operation, and that up to 15,000 troops could be involved.
Coalition aircraft patrolling the skies above Basra have carried out air strikes to help the embattled Iraqi troops below.Coalition aircraft patrolling the skies above Basra have carried out air strikes to help the embattled Iraqi troops below.
Of the nine suspected known to have been killed so far, four died in street fighting and five in an air strike. The raids come a day after a curfew was imposed in Basra
Some of the fiercest fighting has focused on Mehdi Army strongholds.
Of the nine suspected militants known to have been killed so far, four died in street fighting and five in an air strike.
British military spokesman Maj Tom Holloway told the BBC no UK troops were involved on the ground.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.
The raids come a day after a curfew was imposed in Basra
He said: "This is good news. It's an indication of Iraqi self-reliance and confidence that they feel able to run this operation without MNF (Multi-national Forces) involvement."
The offensive 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.
Some of the fiercest fighting has reportedly involved the powerful Mehdi Army, which is loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr.
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".
He said his forces had confiscated weapons and roadside bombs during raids across Basra. He said his forces had confiscated weapons and roadside bombs during raids across Iraq's second city.
Routes into the city have been sealed off, according to reports, while hospital officials spoke of a number of casualties. Routes into Basra have been sealed off, according to reports.
CurfewCurfew
The operation has been dubbed Saulat al-Fursan (Charge of the Knights), police told AFP news agency.
One Basra resident 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 Basra resident 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 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.
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.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.
US military officials have publicly recognised the impact of the move in helping to stabilise parts of the country. 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 detain militia members they accuse of belonging to renegade factions. On Tuesday, police also imposed a curfew in the southern Iraqi city of Kut, amid reports of clashes between gunmen and security forces.
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. In Baghdad's Sadr City, Mehdi Army fighters reportedly ordered Iraqi police and soldiers out of the district.
The oil fields in the Basra area are the source of most of Iraq's revenues. Hundreds of protesters marched in Baghdad to launch a campaign of civil disobedience, calling on shops to shut.
Moqtada Sadr said in a statement: "We call upon all Iraqis to stage sit-ins all over Iraq as a first step.
"And if the people's demands are not respected by the Iraqi government, the second step will be to declare civil revolt in Baghdad and all other provinces."
In recent months 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 around the Basra area are the source of most of Iraq's revenues.
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