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Fresh clashes break out in Basra Operation targets Basra militants
(about 1 hour later)
Reports from the Iraqi city of Basra say there have been fresh clashes between Iraqi forces and local militia. Iraqi forces in the southern city of Basra have launched a fresh operation against militants.
Iraqi Army units, supported by US and UK forces, sealed off the central Hayania district and conducted a weapons search. The operation, which apparently sought to seize illegally held weapons, opened with a massive display of firepower by supporting US and UK forces.
An Iraqi commander called it a minor operation, but local reports say it met fierce resistance. The latest reports say the fighting is now subsiding. BBC sources said the operation first met fierce resistance. But the latest reports say the violence has subsided.
Hayania was at the centre of clashes in Basra three weeks ago. Meanwhile, clashes in Baghdad's Sadr City district are said to have claimed seven lives since Friday.
It is a stronghold of the Mehdi Army, which is loyal to Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. The district is Baghdad's main Shia militia stronghold and is the site of frequent confrontations between fighters and Iraqi and coalition forces.
The BBC's Crispin Thorold, in Baghdad, said the latest operation in Basra included a show of force by US and UK forces, who pounded a deserted area of the district with artillery. Tensions have also been increased by the construction of a wall in the district by US and Iraqi forces.
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. They say the wall aims to hamper the militants who regularly fire mortars at the Green Zone, the huge Iraqi and American diplomatic and government compound.
He said local people had mostly been supportive, but admitted there had been "some opposition". But local residents complain such walls exacerbate local tensions and hinder their ability to move around.
However, local sources spoke of heavy clashes. Also on Saturday, clashes were reported between Iraqi forces and fighters from the Mehdi Army - loyal to the Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - in the southern city of Nasiriya.
Firepower
The latest operation in Basra opened with a huge show of force by US and UK forces, who pounded a deserted area of the district of Hayania with artillery, reports the BBC's Crispin Thorold in Baghdad. Anyone carrying weapons will be arrested. We are chasing fugitives and arresting them Lt Gen Mohan FuraijiIraqi commander
"British artillery and US planes conducted a firepower demonstration to the west of Hayania, to give a demonstration of the firepower available if required," said a spokesman for British forces, Major Tom Holloway.
No casualties have been reported.
An Iraqi commander, Lt Gen Mohan Furaiji, said Iraqi Army units had entered Hayania - a stronghold of the militias - where they conducted searches for illegally held weapons.
"Our troops moved in there, and now they have reached the centre of Hayania. Now there are no confrontations, and anyone carrying weapons will be arrested," he said, according to news agency Reuters.
Clashes in Basra about two weeks ago ended in stalemate
"We are chasing fugitives and arresting them. We expect within the next few hours that the operation will be concluded successfully."
Earlier, Gen Furaiji said local people had mostly been supportive, but admitted there had been "some opposition".
Local sources spoke of heavy clashes. But our correspondent says it is unclear whether the resistance was led by Mehdi Army fighters or so-called "independent" fighters.
Basra was the scene of intense fighting some three weeks ago, after Iraqi forces made an attempt to disarm militias operating in the city.Basra was the scene of intense fighting some three weeks ago, after Iraqi forces made an attempt to disarm militias operating in the city.
Operation criticisedOperation criticised
That operation ground to a halt when the army faced considerable resistance from the militias, including the Mehdi Army.That operation ground to a halt when the army faced considerable resistance from the militias, including the Mehdi Army.
The fighting spread to various parts of Iraq, hundreds of people were killed and thousands of civilians were trapped in their homes for days on end.The fighting spread to various parts of Iraq, hundreds of people were killed and thousands of civilians were trapped in their homes for days on end.
The militias were never disarmed, only promising to take their weapons off the streets.The militias were never disarmed, only promising to take their weapons off the streets.
The operation was criticised by US commanders as poorly planned and as failing to achieve its stated aims.The operation was criticised by US commanders as poorly planned and as failing to achieve its stated aims.
Gen Furaiji, the architect of the operation, was moved back to Baghdad, but the Iraqi government insisted he was not being fired.Gen Furaiji, the architect of the operation, was moved back to Baghdad, but the Iraqi government insisted he was not being fired.