By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has said that military operations in Basra sent a clear message to regional powers who attempt to escalate tension in the southern city of Basra and nearby provinces.
The Iraqi Interior Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that Al-Maliki held a security meeting with security commanders after arriving in Basra where he was leading efforts to curb the armed militias.
The statement noted that the government was keen to bring security, stability, and rule of law in the city being targeted through instability and security. “Our determination is big on making such operation a success,” Al-Maliki said.
Earlier, the Iraqi security forces fought fierce gun battles with Shiite militias in Basra in a major operation aimed at bringing the southern oil city under government control.
The operation targeted six districts in central and northern Basra where the Mehdi Army militia of Shiite cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr has a strong presence.
The Iraqi prime minister stressed the importance of following legal procedures in holding the accomplices of violence and criminal activities responsible for their actions, the statement said.
Al-Maliki also ensured that procedures would be in line in preserving human rights in respect of those who demonstrated and contributed to the unrest, the statement added.