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| Iraq |
| UK-made missiles found |
| 2003-03-23 |
| British troops securing the outskirts of Basra have discovered missiles and warheads hidden inside fortified bunkers, reports say. Cases of rockets, giant anti-shipping mines and other ammunition were found in dozens of Iraqi bunkers near what is marked on maps as the Az Zubaya Heliport. Some of the boxes are clearly marked with the names of British manufacturers. It was not clear when the missiles were made. On one box, written in English, were the words: "Contract AS Navy. 5/1980 Iran." One pile of boxes in a store housing rocket propelled grenades bears the name of Wallop Industries Limited, based in Middle Wallop in Hampshire, Chamberlain said. Two Russian-made Al-Harith anti-shipping Cruise missiles, each 20 feet long and three feet in diameter, and nine warheads, hidden in two enormous reinforced concrete bunkers, were also found. Another missile, as yet unidentified, was found still crated up at the rear of one of the bunkers. The discovery of the missiles came as British troops from the Black Watch Regiment fought to secure the area around Iraqi's second city, Basra, ahead of a push to capture the city. Several units were involved in skirmishes with pockets of Iraqi troops and with civilians who have seized abandoned weaponry. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |