BAGHDAD, April 19 (Reuters) - U.S. warplanes and British artillery unleashed a bombardment in the city of Basra ahead of an advance by Iraqi troops on Saturday, a British military spokesman said. "British artillery and U.S. planes conducted a firepower demonstration to the west of Hayaniya, to give a demonstration of the firepower available if required," Major Tom Holloway said, referring to a neighbourhood that is a stronghold of Mehdi Army fighters loyal to Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. He said the bombardment was aimed at an area of waste ground, and intended to be the biggest demonstration of the Western forces' might since government troops began a crackdown on Sadr fighters in late March. (Writing by Peter Graff, Editing by Dean Yates)
United Nations special representative in Iraq Staffan de Mistura speaks during an interview with Reuters at the U.N. office in Baghdad April 18, 2008. REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen (IRAQ) ...
