British soldiers rescued

Wearing civilian clothes and driving a civilian vehicle two British undercover soldiers exchanged fire with Iraqi police before being taken into custody and put into a holding cell in a Basra jail.

A short time later two British tanks were sent to the jail holding the soldiers.
Eye witnesses say that the tanks were then used to break down part of a wall in a rescue bid.

The soldiers were rescued, however, the tanks then came under attack from civilians hurling petrol bombs and stones.

Fearing the ammunition would explode one tank crew escaped from their vehicle through a hail of rocks and angry locals, more shots were fired and several people were wounded.

The Governor of Basra said this was a "barbaric act of aggression".