Civilians ‘shot at by Iraqi militia’

AROUND 2,000 civilians were shot at by Iraqi paramilitary forces as they tried to flee the southern city of Basra, British army officers claimed yesterday.

British troops returned fire after the civilians were attacked with mortars and machine guns as they were crossing a bridge on foot, it was alleged.

Captain Robert Sandford, with the 7th Armoured Brigade, said groups of Iraqi militia appeared to be using mortar plates on the back of small, mobile vehicles. He said they landed around eight or nine mortars near the civilians.