Militia return to Basra and threaten those who helped force them out

When he stopped his car at a traffic light in Basra, Bassam Rady noticed the motorbike with two riders on it inch past him. Suddenly the bike swung round and Rady, sensing danger, tried to drive off. Before he could, a man on the back of the bike pulled a gun from his jacket and fired. The bullet went through the windscreen and just missed him. As he sped away another shot was fired, but missed the car. Rady is a former interpreter for British forces in Iraq. As such, his life is in danger from the militia that once terrorized the Iraqi city and is now returning. More than a year ago Iraqi soldiers, backed by US forces, brought peace and stability to Basra by driving militants over the Iranian border in an operation called Charge of the Knights.