TEHRAN (Reuters) - An Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim opposition group said on Wednesday there had been disturbances, but no uprising, in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.
A spokesman for the Tehran-based Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (news - web sites) (SCIRI) said there were "some disturbances" in Basra. Asked if this amounted to an uprising, the spokesman, Abu Islam, said: "No, there is no uprising."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) said on Wednesday he believed there had been a limited uprising against President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) in Basra overnight.
A SCIRI source said later: "Some disturbances took place last night in different parts of Basra, but it was not widespread and it was not an intifada (uprising). The people chanted slogans against Saddam."
The source said it was not clear if shortages of water and electricity had provoked the unrest in Basra. He said residents had reported that U.S.-led forces had attacked the governor's office and buildings of intelligence services.
SCIRI's denial that a Basra revolt was in progress contradicted an earlier statement by another SCIRI spokesman in Tehran, who had said on Tuesday he could confirm media reports that an uprising was taking place in the city.
Iraq's information minister denied the reports.
SCIRI draws its support from Iraq's Shi'ite majority and has contacts around the country. Basra was the scene of a failed Shi'ite insurrection after the 1991 Gulf War (news - web sites).
Blair told parliament on Wednesday: "In relation to what has happened in Basra overnight, truthfully reports are confused, but we believe there was some limited form of uprising."
He said U.S. and British commanders had to be sure that they had enough forces to protect any uprising from soldiers loyal to Saddam before they encouraged a rebellion.