| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq-Jordan |
| More attacks on Black Watch base |
| 2004-11-01 |
| Soldiers from the Black Watch battle group have been attacked at their base south of Baghdad for the third day. Six mortar rounds landed in Camp Dogwood, 25km (16 miles) south of the Iraqi capital, early on Monday. There were no casualties. On Friday, two mortars were fired at the 850-strong battle group when they arrived from southern Iraq and three landed in the base on Sunday. Downing Street said such attacks were "expected" ahead of January's election. BBC correspondent Nick Springate, embedded with the troops at Camp Dogwood, said Monday's explosions shook the ground but caused no damage. One mortar failed to explode and was made safe by the Royal Engineers. Nick Springate said members of the Royal Engineers were also working "around the clock" to get the base up and running for the British troops' 30-day mission. "They have been, firstly, making safe accommodation. There are very few solid buildings here, sandbags are being put around the outside to make people's sleeping accommodation safe. "Secondly, they are making large sand walls - berms - on the perimeter of the camp." He added that Warrior armoured vehicles were guarding the base. Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said: "We always knew this was going to be a difficult period, because the insurgents are determined to try and stop the elections. "What we have to do is keep focused on what this is all about - it is about giving the ordinary Iraqis up and down Iraq the vote." The battle group is led by three companies of armoured infantry from the 1st Battalion The Black Watch, with some 500 men and 50 Warrior armoured fighting vehicles. They are accompanied by a reconnaissance unit from the mainly Welsh Queen's Dragoon Guards, with around 100 men and 12 Scimitar armoured vehicles, and a 50-strong Royal Marine light infantry unit from 40 Commando. Support troops include engineers, logisticians, signallers and medics. The soldiers were redeployed following a US request. |
| Posted by:Steve |