Iraqis Demand Protection From Crime

March 8, 08

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Thousands of Iraqis have marched on the Basra police headquarters demanding better security for their crime-ridden city.

Kidnappings, murders and thefts have risen in the southern oil-rich city since British troops handed over responsibility for the province to Iraqi soldiers and police.

In Basra, Iraq's second-largest city and the urban center of the country's oil-rich region, Shiite groups have been fighting for control of the area.

Saturday's protest started as angry citizens took to the streets of southern Basra and walked to the center of the city and the Basra Police Headquarters, according to Hakim al-Mayahi, the head of Basra's security council.

"We, as the security council in Basra, hold the central Iraqi government and security forces in Basra responsible for the recent deterioration in security situation," al-Mayahi said.

The protesters, estimated by The Associated Press to be as many as 5,000 people, criticized Police Chief Gen. Abdul Jalil Khalaf -- who has held the post for nine months -- for failing to establishing security in the city.

Al-Mayahi said the police chief had re-assigned more than 1,500 police officers from inside Basra to outside the city because of personal disagreements.

He said the city suffers several thefts and kidnappings each day and that assassinations have increase significantly since the British handed over security responsibilities to the Iraqis in December.

Khalaf said at a news conference later that "today's demonstration was a natural right of the citizens and the political parties to express their opinions," AP reported.

He defended the performance of the police, saying they had freed 10 people who were kidnapped in the past 10 days and "detained 64 people accused of carrying out sabotage and terrorist operations all over Basra."

The protests in Basra came as the grass-roots cleric whose Mehdi Army militia has gained notoriety among coalition troops admitted many followers have split from his movement or do not heed his leadership.

Muqtada al-Sadr made the admission during Friday noon prayers and it was posted on his Web site. The Mehdi Army has been an active player in violence across Iraq.

The rising crime in Basra comes despite a major reduction in violence in recent months in Baghdad.

On Saturday roadside bombs in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad killed six people in Wajihiyah, about 25 kilometers east of the provincial capital of Baqouba, AP reported.