British army says it has joined in Iraq fighting by firing artillery into Basra

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http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/29/europe/EU-GEN-Britain-Iraq.php

LONDON: The British army has joined in the fighting in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, firing artillery Saturday afternoon to support Iraqi forces, military officials said.

The Defense Ministry said a few artillery rounds had been fired at militants using mortars to attack Iraqi forces in Basra.

A military spokesman said while such operations were fairly routine, it was the first time ground forces had been used in connection with the recent fighting in the city, which pits Iraqi and coalition forces against militant followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

The spokesman did not give his name in accordance with military policy.

Army spokesman Maj. Tom Holloway earlier told the British Broadcasting Corp. the artillery strike followed a request from Iraqi forces in northern Basra. He said the operation did not represent an escalation of Britain's role in the area.

"Iraqi forces were demanding, requesting our support and we were in a position to provide it," he told BBC television.