UK soldiers 'freed from militia'
Some soldiers were forced to flee after their tanks caught fire
Two British soldiers whose imprisonment prompted UK troops to storm a Basra police station were later rescued from militia, the Ministry of Defence says.
Brigadier John Lorimer said it was of "deep concern" the men detained by police ended up held by Shia militia.
The soldiers - thought to have been working undercover - were accused of opening fire on local police.
The arrests sparked unrest in which Army vehicles were attacked. Reports said two Iraqi civilians were killed.
In a statement, Brig Lorimer said that under Iraqi law the soldiers should have been handed over to coalition authorities, but this failed to happen despite repeated requests.
"I had good reason to believe that the lives of the solders were at risk and troops were sent to the area of Basra near the police station to help ensure their safety by providing a cordon," Brig Lorimer said.
"As shown on television these troops were attacked with firebombs and rockets by a violent and determined crowd.
It is of deep concern that British soldiers held by the police should then end up being held by the militia
Brig John Lorimer
"Later in the day, however, I became more concerned about the safety of the two solders after we received information that they had been handed over to militia elements."
After troops broke into the police station to confirm the men were not there, they staged a rescue from a house in Basra, said the commanding officer of 12 Mechanised Brigade in Basra.
"I'm delighted that the two British soldiers are back with British forces and are in good health," Brig Lorimer said.
But he added: "It is of deep concern that British solders held by the police should then end up being held by the militia. This is unacceptable."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4262336.stm
I say good end to a bad situation. Good on the commander for having the balls to organize a jail break.