heaven above
September 17th, 2004, 09:39 PM
Troops storm rebel's offices
18 September 2004
British troops have stormed the offices of rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in Basra after a British soldier was shot and seriously injured in an ambush.
The soldier, who has not been identified, was shot as he patrolled in a small military convoy in the east of Basra, at about 5.40pm local time. He is serious but stable in a British Military Hospital.
Lieutenant Commander Ahmed Ajala, a British military spokesman in the southern Iraqi city, said the resulting operation had uncovered an arms cache.
He said: "At 1740 a two-vehicle British patrol in Basra city was ambushed by small arms fire from the Sadr office. One British soldier was injured.
"At 2115, British troops began an operation to arrest those responsible. During their search of the building, a large quantity of weapons and explosives were found.
"This operation was necessary to remove a threat, preserve the peace in Basra and protect British forces."
He added: "We can confirm that the casualty is serious but stable and is at the British Military Hospital in Shaibah."
During the operation, troops stormed the building and ringed the offices, reinforcements backed by tanks moved to the area and a helicopter hovered overhead.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence in London said the troops went in "at the request and with the full support of the Iraqi police and Basra authorities."
He added the building was "formerly associated with al-Sadr or his people in the city", and said: "It would appear there is some remnant militia elements basically having a pop at us from this building. That sort of activity and hostile action is not going to be tolerated."
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18 September 2004
British troops have stormed the offices of rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in Basra after a British soldier was shot and seriously injured in an ambush.
The soldier, who has not been identified, was shot as he patrolled in a small military convoy in the east of Basra, at about 5.40pm local time. He is serious but stable in a British Military Hospital.
Lieutenant Commander Ahmed Ajala, a British military spokesman in the southern Iraqi city, said the resulting operation had uncovered an arms cache.
He said: "At 1740 a two-vehicle British patrol in Basra city was ambushed by small arms fire from the Sadr office. One British soldier was injured.
"At 2115, British troops began an operation to arrest those responsible. During their search of the building, a large quantity of weapons and explosives were found.
"This operation was necessary to remove a threat, preserve the peace in Basra and protect British forces."
He added: "We can confirm that the casualty is serious but stable and is at the British Military Hospital in Shaibah."
During the operation, troops stormed the building and ringed the offices, reinforcements backed by tanks moved to the area and a helicopter hovered overhead.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence in London said the troops went in "at the request and with the full support of the Iraqi police and Basra authorities."
He added the building was "formerly associated with al-Sadr or his people in the city", and said: "It would appear there is some remnant militia elements basically having a pop at us from this building. That sort of activity and hostile action is not going to be tolerated."
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©2004 Associated New Media | Terms | Privacy policy