Terror attacks in British-controlled southern Iraq yesterday left at least 68 people dead, including up to 20 children.

Having escaped the violence seen in recent weeks in the rest of the country, the attacks on three police stations in Basra and a police academy in nearby Zubair marked a new escalation in the crisis facing the coalition.

Tony Blair expressed his sympathy with the victims.

Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, the prime minister said the killing was the action of increasingly "desperate" terrorists.