The chief of police in the southern Iraqi city of Basra has warned of a campaign of violence against women carried out by religious extremists.

It has, Maj-Gen Abdul Jalil Khalaf said, included threats, intimidation and even murder.

Some victims were dressed in indecent clothes by their killers or had notices attached to them, he said.

And as they breathed their last, no doubt those women we relieved. Could have been worse - it could have been Uday or Qusay Hussein pulling the trigger.

Mission accomplished.