Iraqi security forces battled with Shia militia in Basra yesterday in an intense conflict widely seen as a critical test of the Baghdad government’s ability to control its own country.
The battle for Iraq’s second city could have huge repercussions for the continuing US occupation and the legacy left by five years of British military involvement in the south.
Fifteen thousand soldiers from the Iraqi national army led the crackdown under the supervision of the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, against the Mahdi army, followers of the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. At least 31 people were killed and 88 injured, police and hospital officials said.
– The Guardian
Teachers are to launch a campaign against military recruitment campaigns which employ “misleading propaganda” in schools. The National Union of Teachers yesterday vowed to back any school staff who want to boycott armed forces recruitment campaigns.
The union will hold a summit of teachers, education experts and campaigners to consider the issue of military recruitment after allegations that the Ministry of Defence is employing heavy-handed recruitment campaigns in schools.
– The Guardian
Iraq is facing the gravest challenge to its fragile security in more than a year as the radical Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called for nationwide protests after Baghdad launched a major military operation against his supporters in Basra.
At least 25 people were killed in fighting in the southern city after the Iraqi army raided districts that are home to militiamen loyal to Sadr.
– The Telegraph
A security lapse on Facebook has allowed its users to gain access to vast libraries of private photographs, including one of Paris Hilton drinking beer with her friends.
A Canadian hacker exploited a recent upgrade to the networking site’s privacy settings to view pictures that were intended to be private, including some of Paris Hilton partying with her brother, Barron Nicholas, at the recent Emmy awards.
Facebook was told about the problem yesterday afternoon, and said it had since fixed the bug.
– The Times
