Tens of thousands of Shiite protesters took to the streets today over the government’s crackdown against militias in Basra as heavy fighting between Iraqi security forces and gunmen erupted for a third day in the southern oil port and Baghdad.

Tens of thousands of Shiite protesters took to the streets today over the government's crackdown against militias in Basra as heavy fighting between Iraqi security forces and gunmen erupted for a third day in the southern oil port and Baghdad.