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British Forces Destroy Rogue Iraqi Police Station in Basra
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=157BAD5:A6F02AD83191E1600408940D4976DBC79574F7DCC14957C0 British forces
stormed Basra's Jameat police station after receiving intelligence
that Iraqi officers were planning to execute detainees





Iraqis look at the destroyed Jameat police station after it was
demolished in a British army raid in Basra,Iraq, 25 Dec 2006

British troops have killed seven gunmen and demolished an Iraqi police
station in the southern city of Basra to stop rogue officers from
using the site to commit crimes.

British forces stormed the Jameat police station early Monday after
receiving intelligence that Iraqi officers were planning to execute
detainees.

British military officials say the operation was aimed at disbanding a
unit at the station involved in murders, kidnappings and other crimes.

In Baghdad, Iraqi police say a car bomb exploded in a mainly Shi'ite
neighborhood, killing at least 10 people.

Meanwhile, U.S. and Iraqi officials say American forces in Baghdad
detained at least four Iranians last week suspected of inciting
attacks against Iraqi troops.

Officials say Iraqi President Jalal Talabani had invited the Iranians
to visit the capital, and he was unhappy that U.S. forces had detained
them.

Officials say two Iranian diplomats seized by U.S. forces were later
turned over to Iraqi authorities and released.

The New York Times reports that at least two Iranian military
officials remain in U.S. custody.

Washington has accused Iranian agents of stirring up sectarian
violence in Iraq by arming and training Shi'ite militias. Tehran says
it only has political and religious links with Iraqi Shi'ites.

In another development, Iraqi police say a suicide bomber killed three
policemen Monday in the town of Ramadi in the western province of
Anbar.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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