Brits Crack Down on Basra's Police

[ECH1969]

British troops launched a crackdown Tuesday on Basra's troubled police, arresting several officers in a force long believed infiltrated by extremist Shiite militiamen. Curbing militia power is considered crucial to building trust among Iraq's rival communities, but finding a way to do it has proven elusive.

Fourteen people were detained in the early morning raids, British officials said. Nine were released but five others - all policemen - were jailed for alleged roles in murder and other crimes "connected to rival tribal and militia groups," British spokesman Maj. Peter Cripps said.

They include Maj. Jassim al-Daraji, assistant director of Basra's criminal intelligence department, according to police spokesman Lt. Abbas al-Basri.

"Everyone in this part of Iraq has some allegiance or grouping with a tribe or some political group or militia," Cripps told The Associated Press. "The point ... is whether their allegiances are greater to the police service or their tribe or militia."

http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/01/24/ap2473802.html

[leesa]

1. Oh, that'll work.