Iraq: Governor of Basra criticises UK forces

khaleejtimes/AP: The governor of Basra province said yesterday that British forces are compromising security in the region by conducting raids and arrests without coordinating them with Iraqi security forces.

Another official said the 12 Iraqis taken into custody by British forces here on Thursday night included the chief of Basra city's state-run electricity company and demanded his release.

The 12 men detained during a raid on a house in Basra, Iraq's second largest city, were suspected of carrying out recent attacks on British and US troops, British officials said.

The detainees also were accused of supporting the Al Mahdi militia, which is controlled by Muqtada Al Sadr, the Iraqi rebel Shia cleric, British officials said. The militia is suspected of carrying out such attacks with help from neighbouring Iran.

On Thursday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said his government suspects that Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah might be supplying technology and explosives to Shia militant groups operating in Iraq, but he provided no proof. Read more