BASRA, Iraq, March 26 (Reuters) - Forty people were killed and 200 wounded in clashes between Iraqi security forces and members of the Mehdi Army militia in Iraq's southern oil hub of Basra, a health official told Reuters on Wednesday.

"I confirm that the number of people killed was 40 and 200 were wounded since the start of yesterday's clashes until 9 a.m. (0600 GMT) today. They are civilians, gunmen and security forces," said a health official in Basra, speaking on condition of anonymity. (Reporting by Aref Mohammed; Writing by Randy Fabi; Editing by Dominic Evans)

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