Iraqi government forces take over key Basra neighbourhood
Saturday, 19 Apr 2008 13:05
Iraqi forces are fighting radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's militia in the area
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Iraqi government forces have taken control of an important neighbourhood in the town of Basra with the help of US and British artillery fire.
Basra commander of Iraqi forces Lieutenant-General Mohan al-Furaiji said soldiers had wrested control of the Hayaniya district from the Mehdi Army militia of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Lieutenant-General Mohan al-Furaiji said: "Our troops moved in there, and now they have reached the centre of Hayaniya. Now there are no confrontations, and anyone carrying weapons will be arrested.
"We are chasing fugitives and arresting them. We expect within the next few hours that the operation will be concluded successfully."
Media reports suggest there have been fierce clashes in the city following the operation, although details of casualties are yet to be released.
Last month Iraqi forces, supported by US and UK artillery fire, began an operation to establish the government's writ in the area. The operations ended when the Shia cleric urged his supporters not to resist government troops.
Terse verbal exchanges between the Iraqi government and the cleric have followed with prime minister Nouri al-Maliki previously threatening to ban the political party of Moqtada al-Sadr if he did not put an end to the role of his militia in the area.
