Ohiocore

The BBC reports on a striking story:

British forces have rescued two UK servicemen who were arrested by Iraqi police in the southern city of Basra. Official Iraqi sources say British tanks stormed the city's jail, but the Ministry of Defence says the men's release was negotiated. Basra governor Mohammed al-Waili said it was a "barbaric act of aggression".

This seems to represent a continuation of the conflict between British tanks and Iraqi locals. A Shite leader in the "Shia Mehdi Army" had been arrested earlier. As I previously blogged, Basra's police force was heavily and knowingly infiltrated by religious extremists. After some exchange in this case, 2 undercover British operatives were involved in a skirmish with Basra cops, killing one of the officers. They were then arrested, and then there were street protests were 2 UK tanks were burned, and crews forced to abandon them. 6 tanks then assaulted the Basra jail and busted out 150 prisoners, including the 2 operatives.

MoD officials insist they have been talking to the Iraqi authorities to secure the release of the men - who were reported to be working undercover. But they do acknowledge a wall was demolished as UK forces tried to "collect" the men Iraqi police accused of firing on them.

However, sources in the Iraqi Interior Ministry say six tanks were used to smash down the wall in a daring rescue operation.