Masked rebels block roads in Basra

Masked Shiite militiamen armed with rocket launchers and automatic weapons poured through the streets of the southern Iraqi city of Basra today, setting up roadblocks to protest at US military action in Najaf.

About 200 militiamen supporting firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr blocked roads in Basra, where most British soldiers are based, with burning tyres and broken concrete blocks.