Basra in crisis as governor implicates security chiefs in terror

[Barrett808]

BASRA, Iraq (AFP) - The governor of the southern Iraqi province of Basra suspended the city's police chief accusing him of links to groups involved in terrorism as US President George W. Bush described militias as one of Iraq's main challenges.

Governor Mohammed Musabah al-Waili said he was also demanding the resignation of the commander of the Iraqi army's Basra-based 10th Brigade, General Abdul Latif Thaban.

"He is not cooperating with us and is being loyal to his politics and not the law," said the governor in his statement which also suspended police chief Major General Hassan Sawadi.

Waili said the two security chiefs were suspected of links to "sabotage groups, from outside the city and abroad, that are carrying out sabotage and terrorist attacks".

"We have noticed that some border guards and some of the leadership in the army have doubtful links to wanted people," Waili said.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060513/wl_mideast_afp/iraq