(KUNA) -- A source at the Iraqi Interior Ministry confirmed reports of fierce clashes Tuesday in Basra, where Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki is personally overseeing military action, while authorities are claiming the protests in Baghdad came under gunpoint.The source told KUNA the clashes started in the early morning between army forces and armed groups he referred to as "outlaws" in different areas of Iraq's second city. He said the security forces controlled the situation and many militants were between dead, wounded, and arrested. The air forces took part in the fighting, which is part of a wide-scale military action in Basra, he also said. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki announced the "start of military operations in Basra" and the Multi-National Force said he was supervising the operations himself.
Al-Maliki is in Basra with both the Minister of Defense Abdelqader Al-Obaidi and Minister of Interior Jawad Al-Bulani. While the source would not reveal the identity of the militants, eyewitnesses told KUNA the clashes were with the Mahdi Army. The witnesses also said these were the fiercest clashes in the city and that columns of smoke could be seen in the areas of the clashes. They also reported heightened military activity since early morning and said ambulances are taking the injured to hospitals. On a relevant front, Fardh Al-Qanoon (law enforcement) operations command said militants forced civilians to close shop and stay home and also closed the transport stations, under threat of weapon, in Baghdad suburbs yesterday. The militant's affiliation was not stated.
The Sadr bloc had on its part said it called for the protests in southern Baghdad. A command statement said banning civilians from their businesses and denying access to schools and state facilities constitutes breach of law and is an act punishable by the anti-terrorism law, pledging protection for civilians. Meanwhile, Sadr bloc's representative Nassar Al-Rubeiei said protest was a civilian expression of opposition to and condemnation of arbitrary raids against the bloc's figures and members, and is a "peaceful protest." The Shiite areas of Baghdad suffered increased security tension recently, as did southern Iraq, with frequent clashes between security forces and militants of different affiliations.
Al-Maliki had arrived in Basra yesterday and met military leaders to review the deterioration of the security situation in Iraq's second city and lone port city.
Basra saw heightened security measures yesterday which included a closure and ban of vehicles from both entry and exit, in addition to a curfew and suspension of work at state bodies.