Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Central authority in Basra falls to gunmen and militias
Security
(Azzaman) - The southern city of Basra lacks central authority with gunmen and militias of various factions dominating its streets. The provincial council seems to have even lost control of the security forces supposed to reinstate stability and peace in the city with reports of an unidentified battalion commander of emergency troops threatening to overthrow current governor Mohammed al-Waili.
Waili is said to have asked members of the Fadhila party to defend him against a possible coup and large-scale demonstrations to oust him. The protest is said to be organized by supporters of the Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr but one of his aides, Nassar al-Rubai denied his movement had called for “any demonstrations anywhere in Iraq.”
“The central authority is non-existent in Basra and there is a terrifying presence of gunmen on the streets,” warned Wail Abdulrahman, a member of parliament representing one of Basra’s constituencies. Abdulrahman, a former Basra governor, said, “There are so many armed groups in the city and no one knows their affiliations. Basra may fall as a province for any reason any time. This is a regrettable situation.”
Basra is the capital of a province of the same name and safeguarding security is still the responsibility of British occupation troops.’ But the troops are apparently huddled in their barracks and afraid to engage the fighters. Most of Iraq’s oil exports originate in the province’s oil fields. Basra’s police chief, Mohammed al-Mawsawi, said his force was trying hard to “to put an end to the spiral of murder and killings which nobody knows who is behind.” He said cars with tainted glass and no registration plates roam the streets of Basra. “The unknown drivers kill, kidnap and violate all rules and procedures with impunity,” he said.
“The central authority is non-existent in Basra and there is a terrifying presence of gunmen on the streets,” warned Wail Abdulrahman, a member of parliament representing one of Basra’s constituencies. Abdulrahman, a former Basra governor, said, “There are so many armed groups in the city and no one knows their affiliations. Basra may fall as a province for any reason any time. This is a regrettable situation.”
Basra is the capital of a province of the same name and safeguarding security is still the responsibility of British occupation troops.’ But the troops are apparently huddled in their barracks and afraid to engage the fighters. Most of Iraq’s oil exports originate in the province’s oil fields. Basra’s police chief, Mohammed al-Mawsawi, said his force was trying hard to “to put an end to the spiral of murder and killings which nobody knows who is behind.” He said cars with tainted glass and no registration plates roam the streets of Basra. “The unknown drivers kill, kidnap and violate all rules and procedures with impunity,” he said.
Labels: Basra, Fadhela party, gunmen, Mahdi Army, militias, Mohammed al-Waili, Nassar al-Rubai, violence, Wail Abdulrahman
