Foreign terrorists, led by fighters from Saudi Arabia, are behind an upsurge in attacks against British troops in Basra, military sources said yesterday.
telegraph.co.uk

Foreign Office hails state of emergency in Basra
LONDON (Reuters) – The Foreign Office said on Wednesday the declaration of a state of emergency in Iraq’s second city showed the central government is determined to impose security there after British troops suffered their bloodiest month yet patrolling Basra.

Nine British service members have died this month in two bomb attacks and a helicopter crash in Basra, their worst death toll in the city since they seized it during the 2003 invasion.

Iraq’s new Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki visited Basra on Wednesday, declared a city-wide state of emergency and ordered his army into the streets, normally patrolled by police whose loyalty has been suspect.

The Foreign Office said in a statement it welcomed Maliki’s “focus on security and his decision to visit Basra so soon after taking office”.

“This demonstrates the new Iraqi government’s determination to get to grips with the situation in Basra,” it said.

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