Militants seem to be attacking alcohol and video vendors at will in Basra.
"Islamic groups, kept under a tight leash during the Saddam Hussein regime, now operate freely in Basra with their own militias. Officially the militias cannot carry weapons, but it is widely acknowledged that most are armed."
"Another video merchant, 24-year-old Rafeeq Yaqoub, is thinking about quitting the business because of declining sales. "Some people might think you are selling pornography and attack you," he said. "It was better under Saddam Hussein. Nowadays you can expect anyone to come in and kill you."