Iraqi police in Basra are continuing to engage in sectarian violence in the city, Britain's chief police adviser in Iraq has warned.

Bedfordshire Police assistant chief constable Mike Colbourne said that many officers owed their allegiance to the city's Shia militias and were involved in crimes ranging from kidnap to murder.

However, he insisted that the situation was improving and he promised that British forces would not withdraw until the Iraqis were ready to take on responsibility for security themselves.

Mr Colbourne said that despite the hardline "no militias" stance taken by the new provincial director of police, Major General Jaleel Khalaf Shuwail, a significant number of officers were still causing problems.

"The corruption that we are talking about does range from financial corruption through to serious offences such as murder, kidnap," he told BBC Radio 4's The World At One.

"There are a number of Iraqi police service officers who are clearly aligned to militias. I think it is fair to say that there is sectarian violence that is being committed by both police officers and other Iraqi security forces officers."

"We know that there are bad apples and there are a significant number of both serving, but also those who have been sacked and retired, officers who continue to agitate and continue to be involved in violence."

Mr Colbourne said that British police advisers are working with the Iraqis to try to drive out the worst elements amid renewed jockeying for position among the various rival factions in the city as the time for the British to leave drew nearer.

His comments come amid increasing criticism - particularly from "neo cons" in Washington, who have warned that Britain has been defeated in Basra and is now facing the prospect of a humiliating withdrawal.

However, Mr Colbourne insisted that they would not pull out until the Iraqi forces were ready to take over.

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