South Iraq said to be lawless, report
Iraq, Politics, 5/29/2006

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported yesterday that "Southern Iraq, long touted as a peaceful region that's likely to be among the first areas returned to Iraqi control, is now dominated by Shiite Muslim warlords and militiamen who are laying the groundwork for an Islamic fundamentalist government, say senior British and Iraqi officials in the area."

The report said "The militias appear to be supported by Iranian intelligence or military units that are shipping weapons to the militias in Iraq and providing training for them in Iran."

The report said that three main groups to to hold great control: Badr Organization (military wing of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq), The Mahdi Army, and Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr loyalists.

The report said "The city of Basra has banned alcohol sales. A woman without a head scarf is a rare sight. Record shops have been replaced with stores selling Koranic recordings. It's difficult to purchase chess or backgammon sets; the games are frowned upon by hard-line clerics. While there are many signs that Iran is backing the Shiite push for control of Basra, it's not clear to what extent the Iranian government is formally involved, said Brig. Gen. James Everard, who commands the British brigade in Basra." The British officials accuse politicians in Basra of using police as death squads, the report said.

It is not clear to what extent the British accusation are credible in light of their previous unsupported accusations against Iran of supplying explosive devices to Iraqis in the south, and the hostile British political agenda towards Iran."

Previous Stories:
  Expectations for release Iranian prisoners in Iraq   (5/27/2006)
  Zebari: Iraq would never allow aggression on Iran   (5/27/2006)
  Iran, Iraq to broaden ties   (5/27/2006)

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