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| Iraq |
| British in downtown Basra |
| 2003-04-06 |
| Royal Marine Commandos have joined the offensive on Basra after British tanks and armoured vehicles pushed their way into the city. Sky's Emma Hurd is with British forces. As heavy gunfire interrupted her live telephone reports she described how troops were preparing to enter and search the Ba'ath party headquarters in a central part of Basra. Earlier, UK military spokesman Colonel Chris Vernon said three battle groups had entered the city - the country's second-largest with a population of more than a million. Soldiers from the 7th Armoured Brigade - the Desert Rats - had encountered "isolated pockets" of resistance as the tanks pushed their way through an industrial area in the outskirts from the south west early on Sunday morning. I geuss they really did get Chemical Ali — and his staff. If they got him at home, Ali Hassan was some kinda dumbass... UK military spokesman Group Captain Al Lockwood, said it appeared Basra's Ba'ath Party leadership had either been eliminated or fled. He said the city's civilians appeared to have welcomed the troops. Military commanders decided to push into the city centre - beyond their original intention to establish checkpoints on its suburbs - after encountering minimal resistance by Iraqi forces. FoxNews says the Brits are sifting through the remains of Chemical Ali's house and that they've identified the remains of his bodyguard — still looking for Ali Hassan's remains... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |