Iraq removes police chief after Basra crackdown

By Aref Mohammed

BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq's government removed the top police commander in the southern city of Basra on Wednesday, weeks after a botched crackdown on militia fighters there triggered the country's worst fighting in months.

But the Defence Ministry denied earlier comments that the top military commander in the southern city, Army Lieutenant-General Mohan al-Furaiji, had also been replaced.

"He is still in his job. He's leading the operations in Basra," Defence Ministry spokesman, Major-General Mohammed al-Askari, said of Furaiji.

Police Major-General Abdul-Jalil Khalaf, who was replaced, and Furaiji, are among the country's most senior commanders and were widely respected by U.S. and British military leaders.

Interior Ministry spokesman Major-General Abdul-Karim Khalaf, no relation to the Basra commander, earlier said the two were recalled to senior positions in Baghdad as a "reward" for tackling criminals in Basra. Another senior general in Baghdad also said both had been replaced.

The two commanders were dispatched to Basra last year and won enthusiastic praise from U.S. and British brass for battling militia and fighting infiltration of their forces. Both survived numerous assassination attempts.

But their fate had come under scrutiny after the crackdown in March failed to dislodge militia fighters loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr from the streets and triggered fighting that spread to other southern cities and Baghdad.

Last week Iraq fired 1,300 soldiers and police for failing to stand and fight during the operation. U.S. commander General David Petraeus told Congress the campaign's planning was "not satisfactory" and he had envisioned a more gradual operation.