Two Iraqis killed, Jordanian wounded in vague incident; Blair in al-Basra: Islamic extremism is a virus

In his speech before his British forces in al-Basra, the British prime minister Tony Blair accused what he called the "virus of the Islamic extremism" of threatening international security.

Blair inspected his forces which toll 10,000 soldiers stationed in al-Basra, where he had arrived from Sharm esh Sheikh in an undeclared visit. This is, however, the second visit for the British prime minister to Iraq since its occupation.

In the battlefield, sources in the Iraqi police announced the killing of two Iraqis, and wounding of one Jordanian on Saturday evening, in car explosion which was carrying them in Musil, to the north of Iraq. The sources added that it is assumed that the incident results from explosives inside the car. The sources added that the police is investigating the wounded Jordanian who was admitted to the hospital, in order to find out the reasons behind the incident.

In separate incidents on Saturday, three American soldiers and four Iraqis were killed. Also, the American occupation forces detained 128 Iraqis, and confiscated explosives and weapons in the western and southern areas of Baghdad.

A statement by the occupation forces said that the detention acts were carried out on Friday, in al-Anbar province which extends from Baghdad until the borders with Jordan and Syria. The statement added that during this operation a hiding location was discovered that included 23 Kg TNT and 41 anti tank missiles and machineguns.