BASRA: Basra provincial council on Monday suspended relations with the British following new claims of abuse of Iraqis by UK troops, British military officials said.

Officials in Basra cut off relations a day after the News of the World reported video footage showing British troops beating Iraqi civilians.

The video - filmed in Ammara, north of Basra, in 2004 - appeared to show defenceless young Iraqis being kicked and attacked with batons. It is thought the Iraqis had been plucked from a mob by a ‘snatch squad’ of British troops during a riot in the town.

Military police have arrested a corporal from the Light Infantry as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged abuse. He was named as Martin Webster. The southern province of Basra is the base for the British military in Iraq. Around 8,000 UK personnel remain in the country.

Officials in Basra also cut off relations with the British military last September after troops stormed a police station to free two arrested SAS officials.—Dawn/Guardian News Service