{"id":"1","article_title":"UK minister: Basra is 'transformed city'","category_id":"1","article_date":"2012-10-23","article_summary":"Britain's defense secretary has declared that the once war-torn southern Iraqi city of Basra is now a \"transformed city.\"Des Browne, who made an unannounced visit<br>","article_content":"<img title=\"Image: http:\/\/www.myvivvo.com\/thumbnail.php?file=art.check.afp.gi_806001748.jpg&amp;size=article_medium\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myvivvo.com\/thumbnail.php?file=art.check.afp.gi_806001748.jpg&amp;size=article_medium\" alt=\"UK minister Basra is transformed city\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Britain's defense secretary has declared that the once war-torn southern Iraqi city of Basra is now a \"transformed city.\"<br><br>Des\r\n Browne, who made an unannounced visit to Basra on Thursday, comes two \r\nmonths after Iraq's government launched a recent offensive in the \r\nlargely Shiite city against what they call criminal elements.<br><br>A \r\nBritish military news release said Browne \"engaged with local residents\"\r\n as he talk a stroll in a neighborhood. He saw \"market stalls, craftsmen\r\n and shoppers\" in what was a \"previously hazardous area.\"<br><br>\"As I \r\nwalked through Basra's streets today, chatting to people, it was clear \r\nto everyone that Basra is a transformed city. I felt an enormous sense \r\nof pride in what the Iraqi forces have achieved with our help,\" Browne \r\nsaid, according to the news release.<br><br>\"Mid-afternoon I sat in a \r\nBasra street cafe and had a cup of tea with General Mohammed Juwad \r\nHuwaidi, commander of the Iraqi forces in Basra. All around us were the \r\nsigns of a city returning to normality -- shop keepers working away, \r\nwomen walking around wearing head scarves and children playing on their \r\nbikes.\"<br><br>Maj. Tom Holloway, the British military spokesman, told \r\nCNN on Friday that Browne discussed security plans with British \r\ncommanders and met with local Iraqi military officials during the \r\nthree-hour visit.<br><br>British troops had been based in Basra city \r\nsince the Iraq war began in 2003. The country handed over security \r\ncontrol to Iraqis late last year, but still maintains a presence in \r\nBasra province.<br><br>The defense ministry says there are 4,000 British\r\n troops in southern Iraq, and they are focused on training and mentoring\r\n and \"carry out tasks in support of the coalition.\"<br><br>Iraqi Prime \r\nMinister Nuri al-Maliki in late March launched the offensive targeting \r\nan outlaw element that had been holding sway in city neighborhoods.<br><br>Many\r\n observers believe the fighting reflected the country's intra-Shiite \r\nrivalries. Much of the fighting pitted Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's \r\nMehdi Army militia against the government security forces dominated by \r\nmembers of a rival Shiite group, the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq.<br><br>The\r\n offensive sparked fighting in other Shiite towns and in Baghdad's \r\npredominantly Sadr City, where troops fought Shiite militants until a \r\ncease-fire was recently forged.<br><br>Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S.\r\n military official in Iraq, mentioned the Basra offensive during \r\ntestimony on Thursday at a hearing before the Senate Armed Services \r\nCommittee.<br><br>He said the operation -- which was criticized for its \r\nhasty planning and initially seen by some observers as a government \r\nfailure -- \"did have a shaky start.\" The Senate hearing was over his \r\nnomination to head U.S. Central Command.<br><br>Petraeus said the operation has since had \"enormous progress that has produced very positive tactical and strategic results.\"<br><br>\"The\r\n tactical results are the return of control to legitimate security \r\nforces in Basra, something for which the .... people of that city and \r\nprovince are quite grateful and they're pleased about.\"<br><br>Browne said it was his ninth visit to Basra over the past two years.<br><br>\"In that time there have been highs and there have been lows. I have seen progress and I have seen that progress stall.<br><br><br>\"But\r\n never have I seen the Iraqi army operating with such confidence and \r\nenjoying such support from the local people. This would not have been \r\npossible without the hard work of the British military,\" he said.<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><br>","created_by":null,"created":null,"modified_by":null,"modified":null}