(5 Aug 2004)
1. Pan from British soldiers to local office of Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr
2. Exterior of office building
3. Pan from soldiers to office
4. Various shots of al-Sadr supporters and British soldiers
5. Sign on building
6. Pan across people on rooftop of building
7. British soldiers exiting vehicle
8. Various shots of soldiers
9. Vehicle driving away
STORYLINE:
Tension has increased in Basra between fighters loyal to Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and British troops stationed in the southern Iraqi city.
APTN filmed British forces gathered outside al-Sadr's local office in the city - and on Thursday afternoon, witnesses reported clashes between the Shi'ite fighters and British troops in the north of the city.
Witnesses say three of the fighters were injured in the clashes.
There is conflicting reports on the situation in Basra, with some witnesses saying the al-Mahdi army took up positions close to where British forces normally patrol.
Others say the British soldiers surrounded al-Sadr's office.
The Mahdi army says it issued a deadline to British soldiers of Thursday afternoon to free four of al-Sadr's men who they were holding.
The British had not received a formal ultimatum, "only rhetoric," said Major Ian Clooney. He added that the men in custody had been detained for questioning.
An al-Sadr spokesman, Sheikh Assad al-Basri, said the al-Mahdi army "has prepared 1,000 fighters in Basra to confront the British forces who failed to respond to our demands."
Violence between al-Sadr militants and U.S forces first began in April after the U.S.-led occupation authority closed al-Sadr's newspaper and arrested a key aide.
A series of truces ended the fighting, and the newspaper was recently allowed to start printing again.
Thursday's clashes were the worst flare-up in fighting between authorities and al-Sadr's forces since a series of truces two months ago ended weeks of violence.
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