Britain assaults Iraqi Prison

A pretty strong image graced the front of my paper this morning - a British soldier was jumping from his armoured vehicle... and he was on fire. Despite Defence Secretary John Reid's comments that "we remain committed to helping the Iraqi government for as long as they judge that a coalition presence is necessary", I find it difficult to believe that the British mission in Iraq has not been comprised by the recent attack on a Iraqi prison in Basra.

Haydar al-Abadi, a spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, said the British rescue had been "a very unfortunate development"

"My understanding is that, first, it happened very quickly. Second, there is lack of discipline in the whole area regarding this matter...

"It is a very unfortunate development that the British forces should try to release their soldiers the way it happened, it's very unfortunate."

The Iraqi prime minister's office has released a statement insisting there was no crisis in relations with the British.