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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| UK may return to Iraq crisis city | UK may return to Iraq crisis city |
| (about 12 hours 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 31 people dead and 90 injured. | Clashes between police and up to 300 gunmen have left at least 31 people dead and 90 injured. |
| Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, said there would have to be a reassessment of the transfer. | |
| He said: "After what happened in Amara over the last two days the Iraqi military commanders, as well as the British commanders and the multi-national forces command, has really to look deeper and to evaluate the situation whether Amara or Maysan Province is ready for the transfer to the Iraqi security." | |
| 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. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The policies regarding Iraq must be reviewed and changed Justin Schultz, Boise, US Send us your views | HAVE YOUR SAY The policies regarding Iraq must be reviewed and changed Justin Schultz, Boise, US Send us your views |
| 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. |
| A curfew has been put into force, but BBC reporters in Iraq say it is unclear whether the situation is under control. | |
| Major Charlie Burbridge, based in Basra, confirmed that British forces were providing air surveillance in the city. | Major Charlie Burbridge, based in Basra, confirmed that British forces were providing air surveillance in the city. |
| He told Reuters news agency: "There were a number of clashes between the Iraqi police and rogue elements of militias in Amara. | 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 in Amara - the administrative centre of Maysan with a population of about 300,000. | Gunmen attacked a number of police stations in Amara - the administrative centre of Maysan with a population of about 300,000. |
| 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. |
| Iraqi officials claimed that the army had managed to quell the violence, but eyewitness reports suggested there was still gunfire well into the afternoon. | Iraqi officials claimed that the army had managed to quell the violence, but eyewitness reports suggested there was still gunfire well into the afternoon. |
| 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. |
| The BBC's Paul Wood, in nearby Basra, said there were two ways of reading the current situation. | The BBC's Paul Wood, in nearby Basra, said there were two ways of reading the current situation. |
| If the Iraqi army has calmed things down, our correspondent said it would be seen as a "vindication of the British strategy of handing over to the Iraqis - it shows they are capable of coping on their own". | If the Iraqi army has calmed things down, our correspondent said it would be seen as a "vindication of the British strategy of handing over to the Iraqis - it shows they are capable of coping on their own". |
| "The other reading is that things are still unstable, the British army will have to go in, and that will throw that whole strategy into reverse." | "The other reading is that things are still unstable, the British army will have to go in, and that will throw that whole strategy into reverse." |
| Basra and Maysan are the only two provinces still under British control. | Basra and Maysan are the only two provinces still under British control. |