Basra, Aug 24, SPA -- Masked Shiite militiamen armed withrocket launchers and automatic weapons poured through thestreets of this southern Iraqi city on Tuesday, setting uproadblocks to protest U.S. military action in Najaf. About 200 militiamen supporting Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr blocked roads in Basra with burning tires and broken concrete blocks. They couldbe seen in groups of about a dozen at main intersections in the city. Witnesses said most shops were shut and government officeswere closed down as a result, but Squadron Leader SpikeWilson, a British military spokesman, said the roadblockshad little affect. "Iraqi police service (is) pretty much in control of thecenter of Basra," he told The Associated Press. "There'scertainly not widespread activity and the barricades areonly there temporarily. When the police and (Iraqi NationalGuard) move into the vicinity, they seem to disappear."--SPA1335 Local Time 1035 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/194647