Iraqi forces launch crackdown in Amara

Amara: Iraqi troops on Thursday arrested the top official in Amara, a Moqtada Al Sadr loyalist, officials said, raising tensions as a military operation against Shiite militias got under way.

Rafia Abdul-Jabbar, who also was acting deputy governor for Maysan province, was seized from his office Thursday morning along with a member of the provincial council, a local official said.

The Iraqi Defence Ministry spokesman said Abdul-Jabbar was among 17 wanted people detained.

Iraqi forces launched a military operation to drive out Shiite militants in the southern city of Amara on Thursday.

The military action came a day after the expiration of a four-day deadline for militants in Amara to surrender their arms or face arrest.

Police began to raid houses of suspected militants in Amara without facing any resistance.

Iraqi police and troops patrolled the streets and searched vehicles entering the city, while US helicopters hovered overhead.

The crackdown is the latest move by Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki to restore order in Iraq.

Shiite militant leader Moqtada Al Sadr instructed his followers to not resist the raids. Amara is a stronghold of his Mahdi Army militia.

Iraqi troops and police have been tightening their grip on Amara for days. Militias had until Wednesday to hand over medium and heavy weapons, such as rockets and mortars.

Iraqi troops arrested 11 people on the wanted list who were believed to be members of armed groups and seized an unspecified number of weapons during overnight raids in
Basra, Iraqi military told The Associated Press.