BAGHDAD, Feb. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- A spokesman for the Iraq army was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Saturday morning in Basra, a city in southern Iraq, an army official said.

    Captain Makram al-Abbasi, spokesman for the Iraqi army in Basra,was gunned down at around 8 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) while on his way to the base located in the center of Basra, according to Captain Firas al-Tamimi of the Iraqi army.

    Deteriorating relations between British troops and local militias in southern Iraq resulted in a surge of attacks across the country over the last few weeks. Enditem