Clashes erupt between gunmen in Iraqi oil city(Basra)

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, March 22 (Reuters) - Rival Shi'ite gunmen clashed in the centre of the southern Iraqi city of Basra, the hub of the great southern oil field that is the source of most of the country's wealth, Iraqi officials said.

The fighting erupted just two days after British forces pulled out of their base in the heart of Basra, Iraq's second city.

Details of the fighting were sketchy but a Shi'ite official in Baghdad said the fighting was between fighters loyal to Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and the small but locally powerful Fadhila party.


Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL230696.htm

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Iraqis Ready To Replace British Troops
Iraqi Military Ready To Replace Britain Troops After Withdrawal, Iraq's Defense Minister Says

Iraq's defense minister said Wednesday his commanders were surprised when Britain recently announced plans to withdraw some of its troops from Iraq, but that his country's forces will be ready to replace them.

"I am absolutely confident that Iraq's army is quite ready to meet the challenges, even if the withdrawal becomes quite sudden," Defense Minister Abdul-Qader Mohammed Jassim said at a news conference.

On Tuesday, Iraqi forces in southern Iraq replaced British troops at a frequently targeted base in Basra.

The British commander, Maj. Gen. Jonathan Shaw, said the move was part of the plan to shift most security responsibilities to the Iraqis. He said his soldiers would now enter the streets of the oil port city only in exceptional circumstances.

more:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/22/ap/middleeast/main2595267.shtml

Source: Reuters

Curfew imposed in Iraqi oil city after clashes
22 Mar 2007 10:12:50 GMT

-snip-

BASRA, Iraq, March 22 (Reuters) - Gunmen clashed on Thursday in
the`port city of Basra, the hub of Iraq's great southern oil field that
is the source of most of the country's wealth.

Police patrols warned residents to stay inside and said an indefinite
curfew had been imposed.

-snip-

"MISUNDERSTANDING"

Details of the fighting were sketchy but Ali al-Hamadi, the head
of Basra's emergency security committee, blamed it on a
"misunderstanding" between Fadhila and the Mehdi Army militia of
radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

A Shi'ite official in Baghdad said the two groups were fighting over
one of the buildings vacated by the British troops on Tuesday,
although this could not be immediately confirmed.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L22141278.htm

:eyes:

pulling out because it showed that things in Basra were getting better.

Yeah, looks like things are just fine and dandy.

This is a preview of what's to come.

We have fucked up that country so much.