Iraq: Three live rounds, four dead civilians

observer: Bloody battles were fought on the streets of Basra last night after a British helicopter crashed in the city, reportedly killing four airmen and drawing an Iraqi crowd shouting 'Victory to the Mahdi army'.

At least three British army vehicles were set on fire as the crowd hurled petrol bombs at troops trying to reach the blazing wreckage. Iraqi police officials believed the aircraft had been brought down by a shoulder-fired missile. Four charred bodies were seen inside it, reports said.

In the ensuing fighting, unconfirmed reports suggested that four Iraqis - some of them bystanders and thought to include a child - had also been killed. Soldiers fired three live rounds as they moved to seal off the area. A curfew was imposed from 8pm local time in a bid to restore calm. Link

db: Jason Burke and Ned Temko tell us here that UK forces fired 'three live rounds' - with no reference to the source of this information - but we can guess. Most reports of the incident claimed that shooting broke out between the British and armed militiamen - some adding that rocket-propelled grenades were also used by the Iraqis. Under such conditions [if true] is it realistic to believe that the Brits fired only three live rounds?

Four [some reports quote five] civilians were killed and the best Talabani can come up with from the green zone is 'I can assure you that Iraqis continue to honour and appreciate the efforts and sacrifice made by Her Majesty's forces' - that 'sacrifice' may suit Talabani, and George Bush/Blair - but my guess is that the majority of the UK would like to see its troops brought home.

[Stand by for the blaming of Iran]