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Fresh fighting reported in Basra Fresh clashes break out in Basra
(10 minutes later)
Reports from the Iraqi city of Basra say a fresh round of fighting has erupted between government forces and local militia. Reports from the Iraqi city of Basra say fresh fighting has erupted between government forces and local militia.
BBC sources say Iraqi Army units, supported by coalition troops, sealed off the central Hayania district. Iraqi Army units, supported by US and UK forces, sealed off the central Hayania district and conducted a weapons search.
It is a stronghold of the Mehdi Army, the militia loyal to the radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. An Iraqi commander called it a minor operation, but local reports say it met fierce resistance.
An Iraqi commander said it was a minor operation to seize illegal weapons, but local people report fierce fighting. Hayania is a stronghold of the Mehdi Army, and was at the centre of clashes that shook Basra two weeks ago.
The field commander of Iraqi forces in Baghdad, Lt Gen Mohan Furaiji, confirmed that Iraqi Army units had entered Hayania and were conducting searches for illegally held weapons.
He said local people had mostly been supportive, but admitted there had been "some opposition".
However, local sources spoke of heavy clashes.
They report continued sporadic fighting.