Troops try to restore calm
femail.co.uk - 5th April 2004
British troops are trying to restore calm to Iraq's second city after supporters of a radical Shia cleric took over control of the governor's building.
The arrest of an aide of rebel leader Moqtada Sadr sparked protests involving around 150 people in Basra.
British troops were also involved in a gun battle with militia but there were no casualties.
The commander of the British troops in the southern city, Brigadier Nick Carter, said the situation was extremely volatile.
The armed protesters are demanding the release of Sadr's deputy, Mustafa Yacoubi.
Brigadier Carter said they would not leave without Yacoubi but he said he did not think there would be further violence.
"Tensions are very high at the moment," he said.
"While it will remain peaceful and stable while we are in control there is always the prospect that it could break."
Sadr's supporters rioted in cities across Iraq killing at least 52 Iraqis, eight US troops and a Salvadoran soldier.
The fiercest battle on Sunday took place in the streets of Sadr City, Baghdad's largest Shiite neighbourhood, where black-garbed Shiite militiamen fired from rooftops and behind buildings at US troops, killing the eight Americans. At least 30 Iraqis were killed and more than 110 wounded in the fighting, doctors said.
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©2004 Associated New Media