|
Basra: Iraqis âforced to fightâ
Edited for relevance.Iraqi forces in Basra are being forced to leave the city and fight by pro-Saddam militia, the commander of the British military in the Gulf has said. On Wednesday night an attempt was made by an Iraqi column to break out past encircling British forces. The column of 14 tanks — thought to be Russian-built T-55s — was wiped out after being engaged by a similar number of Challenger 2 tanks, British military sources reported. Earlier reports had estimated the strength of the column as up to 120 vehicles. Hmm, as exaggerated as the reoprts of an uprising... The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards — who engaged the column — also overran two Iraqi infantry positions. The commander of UK forces in the Gulf, Air Marshal Brian Burridge, said the Iraqis involved appeared to have been forced by Ba'ath party fighters to engage the British. Air Marshal Burridge said there was evidence of "exemplar executions" being carried out. "They go to their houses and hold a gun to the heads of their families," he told a news conference at Central Command in Qatar. "These militias — probably the Ba'ath party militias — go through a neighbourhood, round up the existing soldiery, put them in their tanks and say 'go that way'. So that 'push south' was just a bit of Ba'athist housekeping, sweeping out potential troublemakers... "You can tell this isn't a fighting formation that really knows its business. It is disorganised, but there is someone trying to organise it." Wednesday night's attempted breakout from the south-east of Basra was said to be headed for the al-Faw peninsula. It was picked up by radar as it travelled along the coast road on the Shatt al-Arab waterway. [...Blair] said it was essential not to encourage uprisings to take place too soon. "We've got to be careful we know we have the support in place, [and are] able to help them before we encourage them to do things that may lead to their death," he said. British forces spokesman Group Captain Al Lockwood said Basra was now "quiet" after Tuesday's reported uprising. "We are obviously on the outskirts, we are making small forays in, talking to local people," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. The uprising, which involved a "significant number" of Iraqis, had been "dispersed" by the Iraqi authorities, he said. Posted by: Bulldog 2003-03-27 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=11949 |