By Mariam Karouny
Reuters, 23 October 2006
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Iraqi government imposed a curfew in the tense southern town of Amara on Monday after battles between Shi'ite militias and police and amid warnings of further attacks on security forces.
Clashes between Shi'ite militias and Iraqi security forces, fuelled by tribal divisions, killed at least 25 people last week in Amara, which was handed over by British troops to Iraqi security forces two months ago.
"We have imposed the curfew due to the security situation there," Defence Ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari said, adding it would remain in force until further notice.
Amara, a town of around 250,000 people, is the provincial capital of Maysan province, home of the Marsh Arabs persecuted by former President Saddam Hussein. British forces plan to hand full control of Maysan to Iraqis in the coming months.
"The curfew is aimed at ending the crisis completely and to ban any public display of weapons," Askari said.
He said the Defence Ministry was redeploying the army in the town and the curfew was needed to enable soldiers to control the town without any problems.
Defence Minister Abdul Qadir Jassim told local state channel al-Iraqiya the ministry had received intelligence that militias were planning more attacks on police stations.
"We are urging our military division to strongly confront any public display of weapons ... and to defend the government's institutions and its infrastructure and the people against illegal armed groups," he said.
The clashes in the Shi'ite town were the latest test for the Shi'ite-led government's ability to rein in militias and exposed a power struggle in the ruling Shi'ite coalition that threatens to further complicate U.S. efforts in Iraq.
"The situation is very tense ... violence could erupt at any time," British military spokesman Major Charlie Burbridge said.
He said there were around 3,000 Iraqi soldiers in Amara to patrol the streets. British forces have a 600-strong contingent on standby in the outskirts of Amara.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who last week met powerful Shi'ite clerics Moqtada al-Sadr and Grand Ayatollah Ali al- Sistani to enlist their support in curbing sectarian violence, ordered National Security Minister Shirwan al-Waeli to go to Amara on Friday to try to quell the turmoil.
Additional reporting by Aseel Kami
--------------------------------
Citation: Mariam Karouny. "Iraq imposes curfew in tense Shi'ite town," Reuters, 23 October 2006.
Original URL: http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2006-10-23T140723Z_01_KAR338505_RTRUKOT_0_TEXT0.xml&src=102306_1529_TOPSTORY_west_cant_abandon_iraq_-_deputy_pm
--------------------------------