"I confirm that the number of people killed was 40 and 200 were wounded since the start of yesterday's clashes until 9 a.m. (0600 GMT) today. They are civilians, gunmen and security forces," said a health official in Basra, speaking on condition of anonymity.
BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Forty people were killed and 200 wounded in clashes between Iraqi security forces and members of the Mehdi Army militia in Iraq's southern oil hub of Basra, a health official told Reuters on Wednesday.
"I confirm that the number of people killed was 40 and 200 were wounded since the start of yesterday's clashes until 9 a.m. (0600 GMT) today. They are civilians, gunmen and security forces," said a health official in Basra, speaking on condition of anonymity.
(Reporting by Aref Mohammed; Writing by Randy Fabi; Editing by Dominic Evans)
