'Mass surrender' by Iraqis
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'Mass surrender' by Iraqis
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'Mass surrender' by Iraqis
22 Mar 2003  printer version
viewed (258)
raiting (-1/1) A division of about 8,000 Iraqi soldiers and their commanders has surrendered to coalition forces in the south of the country, US and UK officials say. The reported capitulation came as coalition military chiefs announced that thousands of US and UK forces moved towards Iraq's second city of Basra. But fighting is continuing around in the south as invading forces continue their push towards Baghdad. The Iraqi capital itself was bombarded by more than 1,000 cruise missiles and hundreds of bombs in a major escalation of the air campaign beginning on Friday evening. More explosions were also reported at around dawn and again later on in the morning. Iraqi officials said three civilians had been killed and more than 200 hurt in the air strikes. A BBC correspondent in Baghdad was told by doctors at a hospital he visited that a young girl and a man were killed in the barrage. Coalition forces suffered the loss of seven servicemen when two British helicopters collided over international waters in the Gulf in what officials say was an accident. Turkey is believed to have sent more than 1,000 troops across its border into northern Iraq overnight, against US wishes. Desert advance Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, chief of the UK defence staff, said Iraq's 51st Division had surrendered and that the US and UK now had thousands of prisoners of war. Iraq denies any desertions or surrenders by senior officers and accuses the invasion forces of "kidnapping" civilians. A large contingent of about 8,000 British troops in 120 tanks and 145 armoured vehicles moved into southern Iraq from Kuwait to support US forces heading to Basra, UK officials said. The advance by units including the 'Desert Rats' of the 7th Armoured Division and paratroopers from 16 Air Assault Brigade would relieve US marines who have spearheaded the southern attack, they said. UK Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said US forces had secured two bridges over the Euphrates - the river which divides central Iraq. He added that British soldiers were close to Basra and that regular Iraqi forces had left the city. A US marine spokesman said Iraqi positions west of Basra were being attacked. "I would certainly say it's a major battle," Captain Andrew Bergen said. BBC correspondents with the invading forces add there is still fighting around Umm Qasr and the southern oilfields, though UK defence chiefs say the major oil installations have been secured. Umm Qasr is seen as a key route for the humanitarian supplies the US and UK have promised Iraqi civilians. Stiff resistance was also reported as the US 3rd Infantry Division moved towards the centre of Iraq and tried to seize an airfield near the city of Nasirya. An unconfirmed report suggests that the city has been secured. US military spokesman Stuart Upton told Reuters news agency that "Nasirya has fallen". 'Shock and awe' campaign Baghdad was rocked by a fresh round of explosions on Saturday, hours after a major escalation of the US-led bombing campaign. More than 1,000 cruise missiles were fired at the Iraqi capital overnight, US officials said. Hundreds of bombing missions were also launched, they said. A presidential palace was set ablaze by the bombings, as were offices of the foreign ministry and the deputy prime minister. Turkish advance There were also attacks on the northern cities of Mosul and Kirkuk where US forces hope to secure important oilfields. Iraqi Kurds - allies of the US in the north - are angry at the reported incursions by Turkish troops, reports the BBC's Jim Muir from the region. Turkey says it needs to protect its national security and prevent a mass influx of refugees but our correspondent say the Kurds fear the operation is directed at them rather than the Iraqi army. Washington is also opposed to the move, fearing clashes between the Turks and Iraqi Kurdish forces who control an autonomous area in northern Iraq. The reported Turkish action came as it opened its airspace to warplanes from the US-led coalition after protracted wrangling. In other developments: -Germany threatens to withdraw its crews from Nato Awacs surveillance planes patrolling Turkish airspace if Ankara orders an invasion of Iraq. -Iraqi television broadcast pictures of Saddam Hussein and his younger son Qusay at what it said was a defence meeting. -Iraqi Kurds say about 70 US missiles were fired at an area close to the border with Iran held by Islamic extremists, the Ansar al-Islam. -Iran's official news agency says rockets have landed on its side of the Iraq border, quoting a military commander. It adds that US and UK aircraft have continued to violate Iranian airspace. Source: Other articles in People:  Readers' CommentsNo comments Add your commentary |
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