12:18 +DJ UK Troops Firing To Back Popular Uprising In Basra - BBC
LONDON (Dow Jones)--U.K. troops are firing on the southern Iraqi city of Basra
in support of a popular uprising against the Iraqi military, British
Broadcasting Corp. television reported Tuesday.
Citing military intelligence sources, BBC reported that Iraqi troops are
firing on civilians with mortar rounds.
BBC reporter Richard Gaisford, speaking from the outskirts of Basra, said he
heard explosions in the city that sounded louder than those made by falling
artillery shells and said he believed aircraft may be involved.
He said the U.K. artillery appears to be targeting the mortar sites firing on
the uprising.
He also said U.K. forces appear to be massing to enter the town and speculated
that they could be moving on Basra within the hour.