Want a Shiite uprising? Invite the Brits:

British units were still battling alongside anti-Saddam Shiite Muslim fighters Wednesday for control of Basra, Iraq's second largest city. A raid on a suburb of the southern city captured a senior leader of the ruling Baath party and killed 20 of his bodyguards.

Lockwood said British troops took out Iraqi mortars aimed at civilians with the help of radar.

"We hope (the uprisings) continue. We're prepared to assist them," Lockwood said.

"It is important that we give support to those people in Iraq who are rising up to overthrow Saddam and his deeply repressive regime," British Prime Minister Tony Blair told the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Forgive my momentary stumbling of faith, gentlemen. By all means, continue.