What the hell is this?

British forces have rescued two UK servicemen who were arrested by Iraqi police in the southern city of Basra.

Official Iraqi sources say British tanks stormed the city's jail, but the Ministry of Defence says the men's release was negotiated.

Basra governor Mohammed al-Waili said it was a "barbaric act of aggression".

Apparently this sparked a free-for-all in which protestors hurled Molotov cocktails at British tanks.

Nice to see we're marching arm in arm toward democracy and freedom, etc., etc..

EDIT 9/20: Here's a good explanation of just what the Sam Hill is going on in Basra.