Iraqi authorities in Basra to boycott British troops

yahoo/afp: Local authorities in Iraq's southern city of Basra have said they will refuse to engage with British troops following a British raid on a police station this week.

"All regular meetings between the governorate and British troops have been cancelled and we will not allow British soldiers into the governorate building or any other public office in Basra," Nadim al-Jaabari, spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP.

The head of the 41-member provincial council, Mohammed Saadun al-Abidi, confirmed the decision to refuse all contacts with British forces which are responsible for security in the region.

"Yesterday, the provincial council voted in session to boycott British troops and we are demanding that they return the two British soldiers to Iraqi custody," Abidi said Thursday.

Relations took a turn for the worse on Monday after British forces forcibly rescued two undercover soldiers who had been detained by Iraqi police.

"We are aware of reports of a boycott, but we are waiting until we can establish that is the case and come up with a plan," British army spokesman Major Steve Melbourne told AFP. Read more