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| Iraq |
| Britain to pay out over Basra rescue |
| 2005-10-12 |
| Britain will pay compensation for injuries and damage caused during the storming by the army of a police station in Basra in the operation to release two SAS soldiers held by local Iraqi militia, it was announced yesterday. In a joint statement, the British Consulate General, representing the army, and the Provincial Council of Basra expressed "regret" for the incidents on 19 September. "We also regret the casualties on both sides and the material damage to public facilities," the statement said. "The British government is prepared to pay valid claims for compensation for casualties and material damage." The carefully worded statement expressed full support for the "dignity of the institutions and people of the governorate of Basra and the sovereignty of Iraq". It said the British government would deal with "those connected to the events" in accordance with the legislation of the former Coalition Provisional Authority. The statement will be seen as an attempt to rebuild relations between the army and the authorities in Basra ahead of Saturday's referendum on a new Iraq constitution and elections in December. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Mohammed al-Waili, the governor, attacked the British action as "barbaric" and warned that he would end co-operation with UK forces unless he received an apology. An Iraqi judge also issued an arrest warrant for the two undercover SAS men following allegations by Iraqi officials that they opened fire after being stopped by a police patrol. In the Commons yesterday, John Reid, the Defence Secretary, stressed he still "fully supported" the operation to rescue the two SAS men after it emerged that they had been handed over by the police to local militia. Unfrickinbelievable. |
| Posted by:.com |
| #3 Oh, I dunno. Who judges what's a "valid claim?" John Reid perhaps? |
| Posted by: James 2005-10-12 15:31 |
| #2 Britain to pay out over Basra rescue Britain Bends over and |
| Posted by: Red Dog 2005-10-12 12:47 |
| #1 Bend over and spreed Albion. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2005-10-12 04:44 |