EAST Lancashire troops caught up in rioting in Iraq's second city are now at the centre of a massive operation to bring fuel to the people of Basra.
Following Saturday's riots in which one British Ghurka died, soldiers of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment have been delivering thousands of tonnes of fuel to the local population.
Soldiers from the QLR, who escaped the riot unscathed, and East Lancs Territorial Army troops are on patrol in the city as part of a 10,500-strong British force spearheading the Multinational Division South East.
The regiment, which contains soldiers from Blackburn, Burnley, Rossendale and Pendle, was deployed to Iraq's second city in the middle of June and was caught up in simmering tensions over the weekend.
Order broke down completely on Saturday when rioting erupted after a power cut in temperatures of up to 50c.
A British patrol was forced to return fire when around 1,000 demonstrators blocked roads with burning tyres and threw rocks at vehicles and troops. One Iraqi was killed in the firefight.
The tension was only reduced when troops, some of whom from QLR, gave away their own fuel in an effort to calm the protesters.
Millions of litres of petrol were due to be brought into the city under military escort in an effort to combat fuel shortages.
Electricity has already been restored to parts of Basra by British troops following the riots over fuel and power shortages.
A British military spokesman said: "We have got over 95 per cent of the population in Basra well behind us. It is just a small minority who are intent on causing some disruption to what we are trying to achieve with the Iraqi people."
Meanwhile, a Blackburn policeman called up to serve in Iraq had a a chance to share a brief moment with his two brothers in Iraq.
Ch Insp Steven Gregson, officer in charge of community safety in eastern division, met up with brothers Ray, 49, and Graham, 37.
All three brothers are serving in southern Iraq, although in different locations.
They met for a special family portrait at Basra International Airport.
Steven was shocked when he received the call up to Iraq after 14 years waiting for his first post with the Territorial Army.
He is now a sergeant with 150 Provost Company, part of the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Military Police.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article