At least two killed, four wounded in Iraq violence (Roundup)

Feb 21, 2008, 14:11 GMT

Baghdad - At least two people were killed on Thursday and four wounded in an attack targeting a four-wheel-drive vehicle in the city of Basra, while clashes between the Iraqi army and illegal militants were also reported in the city.

Two Iraqis were killed and another four injured when militants attacked a four-wheel-drive vehicle, used by foreign companies in Basra, some 550 kilometres south of the Iraqi capital, witnesses told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Also in Basra, Iraqi army forces fought for several hours with militant groups in different areas around the city.

The Voices of Iraq (VOI) news agency said the clashes took place in the Hussein and Jameiyat districts during the late hours of Wednesday and lasted till dawn Thursday.

Helicopters were seen supporting the Iraqi soldiers during the clashes, while militants used rocket-propelled grenades.

There were a number of dead and wounded on both sides, but no firm casualty figures yet available, the reports said.

Sources added that attacks on the British base were also reported near Basra airport.

Separately, Iraq will receive its final security portfolio from the multinational forces by the end of 2008, Baghdad Mayor Hussein al-Tahan, told reporters.

'Throughout this year, Iraqi security forces will be able to finish all preparations to receive the security portfolio,' said al- Tahan.

Meanwhile, some 20 beggars could be seen on central Baghdad's Palestine Street Thursday, despite a police campaign to detain the homeless and mentally impaired to prevent them from being used as suicide bombers.

On Tuesday, the Iraqi Interior Ministry launched a campaign to pick up all beggars and mentally ill and relocate them to sheltered associations.

The campaign is a response to twin suicide bombings in Baghdad's bird and pet market on February 1 which killed 69 people and wounded 180. The suicide bombers were mentally retarded women.