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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK may return to Iraq crisis city | UK may return to Iraq crisis city |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| British troops are on standby to re-enter Amara in southern Iraq after an outbreak of serious violence. | British troops are on standby to re-enter Amara in southern Iraq after an outbreak of serious violence. |
| The Army could return to the city just two months after it pulled out if the Amara authorities ask for help, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed. | The Army could return to the city just two months after it pulled out if the Amara authorities ask for help, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed. |
| Clashes between police and up to 300 gunmen have left at least 12 people dead and dozens injured. | Clashes between police and up to 300 gunmen have left at least 12 people dead and dozens injured. |
| Iraq officials say the violence has now been brought under control, but eyewitnesses report continuing gunfire. | Iraq officials say the violence has now been brought under control, but eyewitnesses report continuing gunfire. |
| The MoD pulled all UK troops out of Amara in August because the security situation was "relatively quiet" there. | The MoD pulled all UK troops out of Amara in August because the security situation was "relatively quiet" there. |
| There were a number of clashes between the Iraqi police and rogue elements of militias Major Charlie BurbridgeBritish army | There were a number of clashes between the Iraqi police and rogue elements of militias Major Charlie BurbridgeBritish army |
| Iraqi forces took over security in the city - in Maysan province - and British troops were given other responsibilities in the surrounding area. | Iraqi forces took over security in the city - in Maysan province - and British troops were given other responsibilities in the surrounding area. |
| But about 700 Iraqi troops have been sent to Amara to deal with the current violence, and a 500-strong battle group of British soldiers has been put on standby. | But about 700 Iraqi troops have been sent to Amara to deal with the current violence, and a 500-strong battle group of British soldiers has been put on standby. |
| Major Charlie Burbridge, based in Basra, confirmed that British forces were already providing air surveillance in the city. | Major Charlie Burbridge, based in Basra, confirmed that British forces were already providing air surveillance in the city. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The policies regarding Iraq must be reviewed and changed Justin Schultz, Boise, US href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4371&edition=1" class="">Send us your views He told Reuters news agency: "There were a number of clashes between the Iraqi police and rogue elements of militias in Amara. | |
| "Some of these clashes became quite intense exchanges of fire." | "Some of these clashes became quite intense exchanges of fire." |
| High-level delegation | High-level delegation |
| It is thought the violence was sparked on Thursday morning by the arrest of the brother of the local leader of the Mehdi militia, loyal to the radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. | It is thought the violence was sparked on Thursday morning by the arrest of the brother of the local leader of the Mehdi militia, loyal to the radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. |
| Gunmen attacked a number of police stations and scores of people were reported to have been injured. | Gunmen attacked a number of police stations and scores of people were reported to have been injured. |
| A high-level delegation has been sent to the city by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki to seek a solution to the problem. | A high-level delegation has been sent to the city by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki to seek a solution to the problem. |
| The UK military has been making moves to hand over power to Iraqi forces in Maysan, following transfers of power in Dhi Qar and Muthanna provinces earlier this year. | The UK military has been making moves to hand over power to Iraqi forces in Maysan, following transfers of power in Dhi Qar and Muthanna provinces earlier this year. |
| Basra and Maysan are the only two provinces still under British control. | Basra and Maysan are the only two provinces still under British control. |