The southern Iraqi city of Basra is “clearly nowhere near” under Allied forces’ control, a leading British military spokesman said today.

BRITISH forces battled more than 1,000 die-hard Iraqi loyalists for control of Basra yesterday , coming to the defence of inhabitants who rose up against President Saddam Hussein in the streets of Iraq’s second-largest city.

British forces waged fierce battles today with more than 1,000 Iraqi militia fighters around Basra, supporting what they said seemed to be a popular uprising against Saddam Hussein by many in the city.

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.

British and American troops were tightening the noose around a key city in southern Iraq tonight as Baghdad braced itself for yet another massive aerial bombardment.

US and British forces will not immediately storm Basra, a British military spokesman said today.