Heavy clashes reported in Basra between troops and Mahdi army
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2008 17:50
Fighting breaks out between Iraqi troops and Mahdi army in Basra
Iraq In Focus
Turmoil in Iraq has dominated news headlines since Saddam Hussein's statue toppled in Baghdad nearly four years ago. Full Story
Heavy fighting has broken out in Basra between Iraqi troops and the militia of radical Shia Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, eyewitnesses have reported.
At least 30 people have been killed with gunfire and mortars heard throughout Iraq's second city since dawn as security forces target rogue aspects of al-Sadri's Mahdi army.
"There are clashes in the streets. Bullets are coming from everywhere and we can hear the sound of rocket explosions. This has been going on since dawn," a witness told the Reuters news agency.
According to the al-Jazeera news agency, troops entered the al-Tamiya district of Basra before moving towards the Mahdi army stronghold of al-Hayania.
Police spokesman Major Karim al-Zubaidi said the army had begun operations at 05:00 local time (02:00 GMT).
"There is fighting between security forces and the Mahdi army," he told al-Jazeera.
The clashes come after an indefinite night-time curfew was imposed on Basra province and hours after Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki visited Iraq's second city.
Vehicles have been barred from entering the southern province altogether, while schools and universities have been closed.
Harith al-Athari, a spokesman for al-Sadr in Basra, said the Mahdi army 'regretted' the fighting.
"We are ready for negotiations and want to calm things," he said.
Last month al-Sadr renewed a unilateral ceasefire between his militia and US troops which has stood since last summer.