British troops in Iraq yesterday mounted aggressive patrols to track down Saddam Hussein’s henchmen and looters.

British forces were waiting for the order today to enter Basra in support of an apparent uprising by Iraqi civilians against Saddam Hussein’s militias.

The population of Iraq’s second city was tonight attempting to throw off the shackles of Saddam Hussein’s regime, according to reports.

Iraqi forces have turned their fire on a popular uprising by civilians in Basra, it was reported tonight.

FIERCE Iraqi resistance — including attacks

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair last night said coalition forces were preparing for “a crucial moment” when they take on the Medina Division of Saddam Hussein’s Republican Guard in the battle for Baghdad.

US and British troops have captured the strategic port in the southern Iraqi city of Umm Qasr, a British military spokeswoman said today.

A huge deployment of British tanks and armoured personnel carriers were today being loaded on to ships in Germany headed for the Gulf.