BASRA, Iraq - BasraÂ’s governor threatened on Friday to stop dealing with British forces unless they release several Iraqis detained this week, including policemen, suspected of links to local killings and kidnappings. Gov. Mohammed al-Waeli also called for a mass demonstration on Sunday outside the British consulate in downtown Basra, IraqÂ’s second-largest city 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, to demand the release of the men, who were detained Tuesday in a joint Iraqi-British operation. TuesdayÂ’s raids come amid an upsurge of roadside bombings and other violent acts targeting British troops, Iraqi security forces and local citizens in Basra, the main base for British forces in Iraq. BasraÂ’s police force has long been believed to have been infiltrated by Shiite militiamen.
“Basra’s provincial council and all government offices will suspend all kinds of dealings with the (British) forces at all levels if they don’t release the detainees,” al-Waeli told The Associated Press. He also called for security control in Basra to be handed over to the Iraqi forces and that the British forces should be stationed outside the city. “The Basra provincial council demands the central government intervene to ensure the release of the detainees,” he said, condemning what he described as the “random arrests” conducted by British forces.
Fourteen people were detained in the early morning raids, British officials said, who said nine were released but five others - all policemen - were jailed for alleged roles in murder and other crimes connected to rival tribal and militias. British military officials have said IraqÂ’s Interior Ministry ordered the arrests and that local officials were forewarned about the operations. |