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3,800 Members Of Iranian Opposition Group Held In Iraq
At least 3,800 members of the Iraq-based anti-Tehran Mojahedin E-Khalq (MEK) Organization are now in the custody of the U.S.-led forces, said General Ricardo Sanchez, Commander of the U.S. Forces in Iraq, Thursday, September 11. "There is no problem with the MEK, because they are now under detention and they have been separated from their combat equipment," he added. Thatâs nice. Thousands of MEK members, who were stationed in different Iraqi bases some close to the Iranian borders and others in other parts of Iraq, have enjoyed support from the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein. The U.S. troops rounded the MEK forces in a base in north-central Iraq after stripping them from heavy weapons, such as tanks and armored vehicles after the occupation of Iraq. Got their own private camp, do they? General Sanchez denied reports that the MEK have continued to carry out combat operations against neighboring Iran. "That is not correct.. They (MEK) are contained and they are not carrying combat operations.. I can guarantee you that," he said answering a question. Hard to do ops when youâre locked up. Course, the Iranians donât believe it. Regarding the ultimatum given by the U.S. forces to armed militias in the holy city of An-Najaf to disarm by Saturday, Sanchez said: "There is a very clear policy that has been established by the Coalition Provisional Authority on disarming or the ability to own weapons.. It is that the Iraqi people can have a weapon such as AK-47 (machinegun) in their homes, but they cannot carry the weapons in public without a weapon control card, and that is a policy that we will continue to enforce." "Got to have a carry permit to pack heat." "It is very clear also that our policy as at normal issue will operate independently in this country and if we should encounter militias that is operating independently, then we will take appropriate action." "We got plenty of shovels" On the Honduras troops that were supposed to join the large Spanish force now stationed in southern Iraq and whether they were supplied with enough equipment, General Sanchez said: "Not all of the equipment that was on the original list have been provided, but they have sufficient equipment to enable them to be effectively conducting their operations." "Their guns are clean and they have plenty of ammo." Posted by: Steve 2003-09-12 |
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