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UK raid angers Basra politicians Discussions to follow Basra raid
(about 2 hours later)
Basra City Council has said it will not co-operate with UK forces in southern Iraq after the police's serious crimes unit was disbanded by troops. British officials are to explain to the authorities in Basra why coalition troops demolished the headquarters of the city's Serious Crime Unit.
British forces raided and demolished the unit's headquarters, and rescued prisoners they feared would be killed. UK forces say Iraqis are still supporting them despite anger over the raid on a police station, and discussions will follow.
Major Charlie Burbridge said the actions were justified because the unit was corrupt and committing crimes. A British officer said the destruction of the base has made Basra safer.
Mohammed al Abadi, head of the city's council, said the raid was illegal and threatened to stop co-operation. Mohammed al Abadi, head of the city's council, had said the raid was illegal and threatened to stop co-operation.
Basra police commander Brigadier General Ali Ibrahim also expressed similar views. He said local officials had not been informed of the operation and that it violated earlier agreements to move the prisoners without military action.
"This storming operation is illegal and violates human rights," he said. "We think that what the operation sought to achieve is very simple and could have been settled by Iraqi troops." And Basra police commander Brigadier General Ali Ibrahim said: "This storming operation is illegal and violates human rights.
During the operation, UK troops raided the unit's headquarters and took charge of 127 prisoners whom they feared might be killed. "We think that what the operation sought to achieve is very simple and could have been settled by Iraqi troops."
They demolished the Jamiat police station, which was the Serious Crimes Unit's base in Basra. But the UK Foreign Office said there had been no formal announcement to withdraw co-operation with the British.
Soldiers from 19 Light Brigade supported by Iraqi forces surrounded the police station before the Royal Engineers used a combat tractor to breach the walls. A spokesman conceded some elements of the council were unhappy but said the UK and the Iraqi government would explain the reasons for them.
Warrior vehicles from Staffordshire Regiments entered the compound and troops stormed the buildings. 'Iraqi backing'
'Iraqi support' Major Charles Burbridge, speaking on behalf of the British Army in Basra, said the 127 prisoners rescued from Jamiat police station had been tortured.
Major Burbridge, speaking on behalf of the British Army in Basra, said the rescued prisoners had been tortured and the raid had the backing of regional and national Iraqi politicians. And the raid had the backing of regional and national Iraqi politicians.
He said: "Some members of the provincial council conducted a press conference yesterday where they criticised what we did and how we did it.
In pictures: Basra police raidIn pictures: Basra police raid
He said: "Some members of the provincial council conducted a press conference yesterday where they criticised what we did and how we did it.
"But at the same time the MoD up in Baghdad had a similar press conference stating that the provincial council's facts were wrong."But at the same time the MoD up in Baghdad had a similar press conference stating that the provincial council's facts were wrong.
"We still believe that we've done the right thing and I think it's important to acknowledge the fact that what we do here is never going to be overwhelmingly popular and if we don't get any criticism then this isn't democracy.""We still believe that we've done the right thing and I think it's important to acknowledge the fact that what we do here is never going to be overwhelmingly popular and if we don't get any criticism then this isn't democracy."
British forces said they were forced to move sooner than expected after receiving intelligence reports suggesting that police were planning to execute their prisoners. British forces raided and demolished the unit's headquarters, and rescued prisoners they feared would be killed.
Mr al Abadi, however, said local officials had not been informed of the operation and that it violated earlier agreements to move the prisoners without military action. SAS rescue
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said hundreds of seized files and computers were taken as evidence.A Ministry of Defence spokesman said hundreds of seized files and computers were taken as evidence.
The raid came three days after seven Iraqi officers were arrested by UK troops on suspicion of corruption and leading a death squad at the unit.The raid came three days after seven Iraqi officers were arrested by UK troops on suspicion of corruption and leading a death squad at the unit.
In September 2005, two SAS soldiers were rescued from Jamiat after being accused of shooting dead a local policeman and wounding another.