Meanwhile, down south

in the supposedly tranquil part of Iraq, near the Shiite city of Basra, a military helicopter is shot down, killing four British soldiers. The supposedly tranquil Shiites' reaction?

"Sky News footage showed locals celebrating, dancing and throwing stones at British troops attempting to reach the crash site as a plume of thick smoke rose behind them.

"Two British Army Warriors (armoured personnel carriers) and a Land Rover also came under fire from petrol bombs as the scene degenerated and clashes broke out between British troops and Shiite militias.


"The scene of the crash Police Captain Mushtaq Khazim said British soldiers fired weapons over the top of the crowd in an effort to disperse it but fire was returned and at least two people, one of them a child, were killed."