Amara (Iraq), Jan 12: British soldiers were on alert in the southern city of Amara today after a weekend of unrest in which six Iraqis died when British troops and Iraqi police opened fire on protestors. Soldiers closed a bridge near the local government headquarters, where jobless Iraqis have demonstrated, and were searching passers-by, but they did not prevent people from gathering again for a third day, a correspondent reported.
Foot patrols had also been increased in the area from which Iraqi police have withdrawn after accusations that they opened fire on the crowd without warning on Saturday, when six people were shot dead.
A spokesman for the British military in Iraq said today he was unaware of any fresh protests in Amara or any extra security measures.
"Obviously they will be monitoring the situation and reacting as appropriate," he said.
British army helicopters had since dawn been hovering over the centre of the Shiite city some 365 km from Baghdad.
Bureau Report