State of emergency in Basra
The measure was imposed yesterday by premier al Maliki in a bid to stop recent violence between Shiite factions that threatens the local people, overseas forces and oil exports.
Basra (AsiaNews/Agencies) A month-long state of emergency has been declared in Basra, Iraq's second city. The measure was announced yesterday by the new Iraqi premier, Nouri al Maliki, who went to the city where security has deteriorated in recent months due to violence between Shiite factions.
Maliki, in his post for barely 12 days, went to Basra together with other government officials and met representatives of the British contingent controlling the region; the governor of the province and tribal leaders in the area.
Until recently, the city, situated in the south of the martyred country, was one of the safest places in Iraq. But in recent weeks the situation took a downward plunge because of internal strife between Shiite factions and against foreign forces. More than 100 people have died in the last month. In May, the death toll of British servicemen reached nine.
Government sources said security forces will be on the streets of the city day and night and will have the brief to carry out searches. The vice-president, Hashemi, said: "A security commission will be set up to diffuse the crisis." One of the tasks of the commission will be to "disarm civilians, including militias and tribes".
A power struggle among militias has been under way in Basra for nearly a year now, especially between the Mahdi Army, which bows to the radical Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr and the Fadhila Shiite party, which the local governor, Mohammed al Waely, belongs to. One dispute is about control of fundamental oil exports, threatened by sabotage.
Tensions are also high with the Sunni community and recently many mosques of the Muslim minority were shut down.
Visiting the south, the premier said the three priorities of the government were: "Security, security, security". And not only in Basra.
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