Baghdad, Iraq – Hundreds of residents and policemen filled the streets in the southern city of Basra on Wednesday, shouting and pumping their fists to condemn British forces for raiding a jail and freeing two of their security officials two days earlier.
Iraqi police had arrested the British commandos on Monday for allegedly shooting at police and planting explosive devices.
British troops then broke the men out of jail, ramming an armored vehicle through the prison wall. In response, residents of Basra and Iraqi police revolted, attacking British forces in the area.
Five civilians were killed that day and two died Wednesday of their injuries, according to hospital authorities.
The angry demonstrators carrying banners, shouted “No to occupation” and demanded that the freed British soldiers be tried in an Iraqi court as terrorists, The Associated Press reported.
Some of the protesters met with the province’s governor demanding “a British apology,” AP said, quoting a police spokesman, Col. Karim Zaidi.
Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Jabur did not return phone calls requesting comment. He told an Iraqi TV channel that his ministry is investigating.
“The results will be presented to the government, council of ministers, the parliament and the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces stormed a house in the center of Baghdad on Wednesday, freeing a hostage and killing five alleged armed insurgents. Iraqi security officers said the insurgents used the house as a “safe haven” and a hideout to stock weapons.
“There is a group of terrorists hiding inside the house with explosives, RPGs and hand grenades,” an Iraqi army officer told Iraqiya, a state-owned TV channel. As he spoke, three Iraqi soldiers fired on the house while five other soldiers rushed through the main gate, pushing tree branches away from their faces.
U.S. troops stayed on the sideline of the assault, supporting the Iraqi security forces in the operation but not engaging directly.
It was not immediately clear with whom the alleged insurgents were connected, but they had a significant amount of weapons, Iraqi officials said. Witnesses in the neighborhood had no information about the hostage.
