Iraqi Military Fires On Civilians Fleeing Basra

Doglips · 03-28-2003, 06:22 AM

Iraqi Military Fires On Civilians Fleeing Basra
Friday, March 28, 2003

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar — Iraqi paramilitary forces in Basra fired mortars and machine guns Friday on a "couple of thousand" Iraqi civilians trying to leave the besieged city, British military officials said.

Members of Britain's 7th Armored Brigade were trying to neutralize the fire, evacuate the civilians and preparing to treat any casualties, said Lt. Col. Ronnie McCourt, a spokesman for British forces in the Gulf.

A senior British defense official said there had been reports in recent days of significant numbers of Iraqi civilians coming out of Basra on a daily basis to get food aid from points outside the city and then returning.

The official, who asked not to be identified further, said that scenario appeared to be the case again Friday, but that Iraqi paramilitary forces opened fire on them to block them from getting out.

"Our interpretation of this is here perhaps are the first pieces of evidence of Iraqi people trying to break free from the Baath party regime and the militia," Col. Chris Vernon, a spokesman in southern Iraq for British forces, told Sky News Television. "And clearly the militia don't want that. They want to keep their population in there, and they fired on them to force them back in."

McCourt said a "couple of thousand" Iraqi civilians had tried to break out of the city in the north and west, but came under fire from Iraqi paramilitary forces inside.

"We are trying to save the people, return fire and rescue civilians," he said.

He said forces of the 1st Black Watch battalion in Warrior armored fighting vehicles were trying to wedge themselves between the militia fire and the civilian targets.

British forces have ringed the southern city -- Iraq's second largest with a population of 1.3 million -- in hopes of eliminating units still loyal to Saddam Hussein and opening the way for badly needed humanitarian aid.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if aid doesn't reach the city soon.

On at least three separate occasions, British units and coalition aircraft have fired on enemy Iraqi tanks and other armored vehicles that have streamed out of the city.

On Thursday, at least 14 T-55 tanks heading south out of Basra toward the al-Faw peninsula were destroyed by coalition airpower and groundfire, British officials said.

Air Marshall Brian Burridge, the top British commander in the Gulf, said Thursday that Saddam's paramilitary forces in Basra were forcing regular army troops to fight, threatening to kill them or to harm their families.

"In Basra we've come up against some stiff oppostion from a mixture of regime paramilitary and the remnants of the Iraqi army's 51st division who we believe have been coerced by the regime," Burridge said.

The British say they are coming to the defense of Shiite Muslims who they say rose up in the streets against Saddam Hussein's Sunni Muslim regime on Tuesday.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has promised backing for the insurgents.

Coalition forces have made no secret of their hopes to spur such uprisings in the strategic southern city. Iraq has denied there was an uprising.

Sniper[MI] · 03-28-2003, 07:56 AM

Howdy,

But if you listen to the American and the world Press and the protesters, we are the bad guys.......

03-28-2003, 06:22 AM	#1
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,089	Iraqi Military Fires On Civilians Fleeing Basra Iraqi Military Fires On Civilians Fleeing Basra Friday, March 28, 2003 CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar — Iraqi paramilitary forces in Basra fired mortars and machine guns Friday on a "couple of thousand" Iraqi civilians trying to leave the besieged city, British military officials said. Members of Britain's 7th Armored Brigade were trying to neutralize the fire, evacuate the civilians and preparing to treat any casualties, said Lt. Col. Ronnie McCourt, a spokesman for British forces in the Gulf. A senior British defense official said there had been reports in recent days of significant numbers of Iraqi civilians coming out of Basra on a daily basis to get food aid from points outside the city and then returning. The official, who asked not to be identified further, said that scenario appeared to be the case again Friday, but that Iraqi paramilitary forces opened fire on them to block them from getting out. "Our interpretation of this is here perhaps are the first pieces of evidence of Iraqi people trying to break free from the Baath party regime and the militia," Col. Chris Vernon, a spokesman in southern Iraq for British forces, told Sky News Television. "And clearly the militia don't want that. They want to keep their population in there, and they fired on them to force them back in." McCourt said a "couple of thousand" Iraqi civilians had tried to break out of the city in the north and west, but came under fire from Iraqi paramilitary forces inside. "We are trying to save the people, return fire and rescue civilians," he said. He said forces of the 1st Black Watch battalion in Warrior armored fighting vehicles were trying to wedge themselves between the militia fire and the civilian targets. British forces have ringed the southern city -- Iraq's second largest with a population of 1.3 million -- in hopes of eliminating units still loyal to Saddam Hussein and opening the way for badly needed humanitarian aid. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if aid doesn't reach the city soon. On at least three separate occasions, British units and coalition aircraft have fired on enemy Iraqi tanks and other armored vehicles that have streamed out of the city. On Thursday, at least 14 T-55 tanks heading south out of Basra toward the al-Faw peninsula were destroyed by coalition airpower and groundfire, British officials said. Air Marshall Brian Burridge, the top British commander in the Gulf, said Thursday that Saddam's paramilitary forces in Basra were forcing regular army troops to fight, threatening to kill them or to harm their families. "In Basra we've come up against some stiff oppostion from a mixture of regime paramilitary and the remnants of the Iraqi army's 51st division who we believe have been coerced by the regime," Burridge said. The British say they are coming to the defense of Shiite Muslims who they say rose up in the streets against Saddam Hussein's Sunni Muslim regime on Tuesday. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has promised backing for the insurgents. Coalition forces have made no secret of their hopes to spur such uprisings in the strategic southern city. Iraq has denied there was an uprising.

03-28-2003, 07:56 AM	#2
Sniper[MI] Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Future 51st state, "New Hope" Posts: 3,796	Hmm Howdy, But if you listen to the American and the world Press and the protesters, we are the bad guys....... __________________ FNUH!