British troops kill Mahdi Army commander in raid

Abu Qader, who led the Mahdi Army in Basra and was wanted for a string of attacks on allied troops, was shot as he emerged from the movement's office in the city.

Iraqi police initially said the 23-year-old leader was killed by 'British soldiers', but UK officials played down their involvement and insisted he was shot dead by Iraqi special forces.

Abu Qader's death came hours after the radical preacher Moqtadr al-Sadr emerged from four months of hiding.

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He has been sheltering in Iran during the security crackdown by U.S. forces in Baghdad but returned in a motorcade to the holy city of Najaf and preached a sermon to his followers.

Al Sadr, whose Mahdi Army militia is blamed for fanning the flames of violence in southern and central Iraq, led the crowd in anti-American and anti-Israeli chanting and demanded an end to the 'occupation' of Iraq by foreign forces.

Abu Qader was believed to be Al Sadr's commander in Basra. He spearheaded the Mahdi Army's recruitment and provided weaponry, according to British officials, as well as being involved in criminal racketeering and intimidation.

A UK military spokesman said the raid was planned and executed by Iraqi special forces troops, with the British acting as 'advisers'.

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Abu Qader was said to have 'resisted arrest' as he left the office in the Hay al Antiza district of Basra and was shot dead.

Last night British forces were braced for a backlash from locals, although a Mahdi Army official insisted their response would consist of 'political resistance'.

He said Abu Qader and two of his aides had been ambushed as they left Friday prayers.

British troops have stepped up raids in Basra in recent weeks, hoping to achieve a rise in security so the area can be handed over to Iraqi forces in the coming months.

Moqtadr al-Sadr is apparently trying to reposition himself as a nationalist leader in Iraq, expanding his support beyond his fanatical Shia Muslim followers.

Yesterday, he presented a relatively moderate message, urging his fighters to avoid conflict with Iraq security forces. Instead, he said the militia should turn to peaceful protests.