Nuri al-Maliki, Iraqi prime minister, yesterday visited Iraq's southern oil capital of Basra and declared a month-long state of emergency in an attempt to restore order to a city beset by quarrelling political parties, militias and criminal gangs.

"We will beat with an iron fist on the heads of gangs who are manipulating security," said Mr Maliki in an address to local officials, tribal leaders and others broadcast on state television. "Gangs, which exploit the security vacuum in this country, kidnap and trade in their hostages," he said.