BASRA: An Iraqi security official on Tuesday accused British soldiers of shooting and wounding four Iraqis, among them police officers, in the southern port city of Basra. The incident took place late on Monday when police ‘tried to stop a group of British intelligence officers in two cars wearing civilian clothes’, the city council leader responsible for security matters, Hakim al Mayahi, said.

“They said ‘We are British intelligence’, but provided no identification,” he said, adding that the cars drove off.

After a chase and as police tried to surround one of the vehicles, the occupants opened fire wounding four people, he added. British troops then arrived at the scene and helped their escape.

They made their getaway aboard a third vehicle, Hakim Mayahi added.—AFP