British "engaging" Basra police despite terror link charges

BAGHDAD (AFP) - British diplomats in Basra continued to "engage" the Iraqi police and army a day after the southern province's governor implicated security chiefs in links to terrorists.

"The British consulate has been regularly engaging with local government authorities and Iraqi police and army," said Robert Collett, a spokesman for the British consulate in the port city.

"We look forward to cooperation continuing and getting progress with the security situation together with the city council," he added Sunday.

Basra governor Mohammed Musabah al-Waili suspended the city's police chief Major General Hassan Sawadi Saturday and demanded the resignation of the commander of the Iraqi army's Basra-based 10th Brigade, General Abdul Latif Thaban.

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