British, Danish troops seize police in Iraq raids

'BASRA, Iraq, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Hundreds of British and Danish troops staged early morning raids on the homes of Iraqi policemen in the southern city of Basra on Tuesday in an operation to root out rogue elements of the police force.

A British military spokesman, Major Peter Cripps, said the policemen were detained in connection with corruption and a number of unsolved murders in the city.

He said 14 people had been detained in the operation including "influential" members of the Basra police force's serious crimes and internal affairs units and the criminal investigation agency. Nine had since been released.

"They are believed to be following their own agenda, including corruption, assassination and the persecution of Basra citizens," he told Reuters."
Reuters