Demonstration against British troops in Basra

Iraq police commandos shout slogans during an anti-Britain demonstration in the southern Iraqi city of Basra 21 September 2005. Around 300 Iraqis, including policemen, protested in Basra to demand that two British soldiers freed in a British military raid be returned to face Iraqi justice. PHOTO: AFP

Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari, meanwhile, was to hold talks in London, where public concern has been on the rise over Britain's deployment in southern Iraq.

"We condemn the illegal acts of British troops," read a banner carried by the demonstrators, who numbered around 300, gathered outside Basra's main police headquarters.

"No, no to the occupier," they chanted, carrying banners which called for the return of the two soldiers to face Iraqi justice, while British troops who patrol the port city kept out of sight.

US-led coalition troops are not subject to Iraqi law.

The demonstrators handed in a list of demands to the police headquarters, including the resignation of the provincial police chief, accusing him of being "an agent" of the British.

"The British promised us sovereignty. So where is this sovereignty if they destroy a police station?" asked one demonstrator.

The demonstration ended peacefully after their demands were delivered for British troops to hand back the two soldiers to be tried in an Iraqi court, along with compensation for the damaged police station.

British forces on Monday stormed the station to free the two soldiers, who were arrested by police after a shooting incident in the town.

The two bearded men had apparently been working undercover as they were wearing Arab clothing and driving a civilian car at the time of arrest.

Britain Defence Secretary John Reid was due to hold talks later Wednesday with Jaafari, the British defence ministry said, that were likely to focus on the events in Basra.

Iraq issued a statement saying there was no crisis between its government and Britain, but senior Iraqi officials strongly criticized the raid, with the governor of the southern province of Basra calling it a "barbaric act."

"Both governments are in close contact, and an inquiry will be conducted by the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior into the incident," a statement from Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari's office said. It also urged calm on all sides.

Reid, under pressure over the deployment of 8,500 troops in Iraq and facing calls for a withdrawal timetable, told a British newspaper, "We do not have designs to stay (in Iraq) as an occupying imperial power. Nor are we going to cut and run because of terrorists".