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British Government To Pay After Al-Basrah Violence

11 October 2005 -- The British government says it is willing to pay compensation for the casualties and damage caused in the southern Iraqi city of Al-Basrah in September when two British undercover soldiers were freed in a military operation.

During clashes on 19 September, British troops stormed a police station where it was thought the men were being held.

Earlier, the two servicemen shot at Iraqi police officers when they were stopped at a checkpoint.

Several Iraqis were killed or wounded when the walls of a police station were knocked down by British armored vehicles, and in demonstrations by angry crowds in the city.

The British Consulate in Al-Basrah and a committee of Al-Basrah's provincial council issued a joint statement today on the offer. The statement also expressed "regret for the casualties on both sides."

(dpa/AP)

Copyright (c) 2005. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org