Reply #45: here is an Update.... No British Troops in the area??

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040405/wl_afp/iraq_us&cid=1512&ncid=1480

<snip>
In the British-controlled city of Basra, Mehdi Army militiamen stormed the governor's office at dawn, raising a green flag on the roof, an AFP correspondent there said.


Five hours later there was no sign of British troops deployed in the area.

The militants, holding assault-rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers, are determined to hold the building until three demands are met, Sheikh Sattar al-Bahadli, the head of Sadr's office in Basra, told AFP.

Sadr's backers are demanding the reopening of their Al-Hawza Al-Natiqa newspaper which the coalition shut down on March 28 for 60 days on charges of inciting violence, the end of sieges of Sadr offices and the release of Sadr followers, in particular Mustafa Yaacubi who was arrested last week.

Tension was also high in the central Shiite holy city of Karbala where Sadr supporters clashed with police in an attempt to seize public buildings, including the governor's office, and revered shrines.

Police in the city said at least one officer was wounded in fighting, when militiamen attacked a police station and tried to free prisoners.