BAGHDAD, Aug 25 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Eight Iraqis were killed and nine others wounded Sunday, August 25, 2002, in U.S. and British air strikes on civilian installations in Basra in southern Iraq, an Iraqi military spokesman said, news agencies reported.

"The American and British criminals have committed a new odious crime against our proud and strong people, when their warplanes pounded civilian installations in the province of Basra by killing eight people and wounding nine others," said the spokesman, quoted by the state INA news agency, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The U.S. and British war planes have been enforcing no fly zones in the North and South of Iraq since the end of the second Gulf war in 1991. Baghdad does not recognize the zones, which are not sanctioned by any UN resolution.

On August 20, three Iraqis were injured in similar air strikes on "civilian installations" in southern Iraq, according to an Iraqi military spokesman.

"Three Iraqis were wounded in the bombardment by enemy planes of civilian installations in Missan province," about 360 kilometers (220 miles) south of Baghdad, the spokesman said.

"Missile batteries and anti-aircraft defenses took action and forced the enemy planes to flee to their bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait," the spokesman said.

He said that the U.S. and British warplanes raided 17 provinces or areas in the south of the country, including the city of Basra.