Heavy clashes continue in Baghdad's Sadr City and in the southern city of Basra where at least 40 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in two days of fighting. The Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has now given Shia militiamen three days to gi
It erupted as Iraqi forces confronted Shiite militiamen as part of a security plan to crack down on sectarian violence. It's being seen as a major test for Iraqi security forces in Basra, following the withdrawal of British troops from the city. Basra is Iraq’s oil industry centre 547 kilometres southeast of Baghdad. Its security is crucial for attracting investment into Iraq.