By Prensa Latina
Baghdad : The Iraqi southern region is now in the grips of the violence unleashed five years ago by the US invasion, being the scene of combats between the Mahdi Army members, loyal to cleric Moqtada al Sader, and the security forces.
According to military sources, the national troops are backed by US helicopters in operations against the opposition in Basora, the second important city in this country, and Hilla.
A hospital in this capital admitted 25 Interior Ministry wounded agents in Basora, from where it was reported on Wednesday that combats left 40 deaths and 200 injured people.
The anti-government forces blew up on Thursday a pipeline that takes oil from the countryside to the southern city and the blast caused a huge fire, witnesses asserted.
Meanwhile, an attack with explosives killed three bodyguards of the Police chief to Basora, Gen. Abdul Yalif Jalaf, who was able to escape alive from that action.
The combats in Hilla continue, and have caused 60 deaths and 32 wounded people, according to the most recent balance.
Vice president Tarik al Hashimi, of the Sunni Muslim community Islamic Party, called on Thursday Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki’s government to act with prudence and reestablish peace in the Iraqi southern region.
The troops sent to Baghdad launched on Monday night a great offensive against the Mhadi’s Army in the country’s southern region, with the alleged purpose of controlling Basora militarily and free it from the influence of the Mhadi’s Army militiamen.