U.S. forces virtually bypassed Basra on the way to Baghdad, so as not to get bogged down and delayed. The British followed in to secure it, and an Iraqi division there (51st?) surrendered and went home. According to Rumsfeld and Myers' press conference just now, the 51st did not return (as has been reported in the media), but their equipment was instead commandeered by the Fedayeen (irregular thugs and murderers in civilian dress) and possibly some of the Republican Guard, traveling south from Baghdad. These two groups are skilled in terrorizing civilians, using them as shields, etc., which is making the fighting dicey as we try to avoid civilian casualties.
Rumsfeld was careful not to encourage civilian uprising, giving the example of uprisings in Communist countries where the freedom fighters didn't have a prayer in hell, and were summarily slaughtered.
If the residents of Basra are rising up, I hope they're not doing so prematurely -- before the Brits are in position to help them -- since we will, of course, be blamed (unjustly) for all civilian deaths.
There were reports of clashes between forces loyal to Saddam and civilians in Basra, but U.S. Marine Maj. David C. Andersen said they were unsubstantiated. "We are closely monitoring the situation," he added.