MNF convoy attacked in Basra

BASRA / IraqiNews.com: A Multi-National Force (MNF) convoy on Sunday was attacked in downtown Basra, but no casualties were reported “An improvised explosive device (IED) detonated at nearly 08:30 a.m. near an MNF convoy in al-Jumhouriya area, downtown Basra, causing no damage or casualties,” Maj. Bill Yong told IraqiNews.com. The convoy was carrying a group of contractors to a children’s hospital in western Basra, according to the major. Britain was the United State’s prime ally in the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. The British forces in the oil-rich port city of Basra, 590 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, keep 4,100 troops within the MNF in Iraq after withdrawing more than half of its forces. Basra, 590 km (340 miles) south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, has an estimated metropolitan population of 2,300,000 in 2008. Basra, a Shiite province with 20% of the population are Sunnis, is the cradle of the first civilization of Sumer. It has the seven main Iraqi ports. The first built in Islam 14 A.H. (After Hegira), the city played an important role in early Islamic history. The area surrounding Basra has substantial petroleum resources and many oil wells. The city’s oil refinery has a production capacity of about 140,000 barrels per day (bpd). The only Iraqi outlet to the sea, Basra is in a fertile agricultural region, with major products including rice, maize corn, barley, pearl millet, wheat and dates as well as livestock. A network of canals flowed through the city, giving it the nickname “The Venice of the Middle East” at least at high tide. The only Iraqi outlet to the sea, Basra has the commercial ports of Iraq. SS (S) 1