Major security operations by coalition and Iraqi forces have begun in Baghdad and the southern city of Basra. U.S. and Iraqi troops met little resistance as they conducted house-to-house searches in Baghdad's Shiite stronghold of Sadr City.
Evidence of torture was found as Iraqi forces backed by British troops raided a detention centre in central Basra. The raid was part of an operation by counter-terrorist forces who were seeking a known death squad leader at the prison. 37 prisoners, including a woman and two children, were freed in the raid. But Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has criticised the raid on the facility as illegal. He's called for an investigation.