Violence still in oil-rich Basra

BASRA, Iraq, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- One person was killed by gunmen dressed in military garb in Basra, a day after the security file of the oil-rich province was turned over to Iraq.

The incident took place in the Jubilah area of Basra, according to Iraq news reports.

Basra is the oil capital of Iraq and has been the scene of an often violent power struggle among political forces, their armed factions, and other militias and gangs.

"Unknown gunmen in military-like uniform shot dead a civilian and wounded two more," a source in the Basra police force told the Voices of Iraq news agency on condition of anonymity.

The Addustour newspaper reports a security force told it, also on condition of anonymity, "two gunmen in patterned military uniforms in a civilian pick-up truck without license plates randomly opened fire."

On Sunday, British forces, which had occupied Basra since 2003, officially handed over power to Iraq's security forces.

Al-Hayat, a London-based Arabic paper, said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki promised U.S. forces that the supply line from Iraq through Basra to "coalition forces will not be attacked."

Three major political parties -- Fadhila, the Sadr Movement and the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq -- are jockeying for control. Fadhila currently is the majority in the provincial government, including the governorship, and its forces have infiltrated the oil protection forces.

But Sadr and ISCI are angling for more in both the political arena as well in the growing oil and fuels black market, where other militias and factions compete.

Hayat, reported in English by IraqSlogger.com, reports a deal was reached among the parties ahead of the British handover.

Fadhila will keep the security over the oil sector, ISCI will control the city security apparatus, and Sadr will apparently "maintain a strong presence" and rival parties will not target it.

Nearly 80 percent of Iraq's oil reserves are located in or around Basra, and nearly all of Iraq's oil exports head to market from Basra ports.