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20/09/2005
Two British soldiers rescued in Iraq
Two British soldiers were rescued in Basra last night, after being arrested earlier on Monday by Iraqi police, it has been reported.
The two soldiers, who may have been working undercover, are believed to have been arrested after failing to stop at a checkpoint in the southern Iraq town of Basra. In the ensuing shootout, it was reported that one policeman was shot dead and another was wounded.
Following the arrests, two British armoured vehicles, sent to Basra jail to provide a security cordon for the soldiers, were attacked by an angry mob and set alight. Soldiers were seen escaping from the vehicle, with their clothes alight. Three soldiers were injured, although the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the injuries were not serious.
The circumstances of the actual rescue of the two soldiers remains unclear. According to reports, an official from the Iraqi interior ministry said that the British army ‘stormed’ the jail with several armoured vehicles in order to free the soldiers. Basra governor Mohammed al-Walli told reporters that over 10 armoured vehicles and helicopters had been used in the assault on the prison, which he described as an act of “barbaric aggression”.
However, the Ministry of Defence denied the allegations and said that only a perimeter wall had been damaged by a Warrior armoured vehicle. The MoD also denied Iraqi allegations that 150 prisoners had escaped from the prison and said that the soldiers had been freed following negotiations.
Brigadier John Lormier of the 12th Mechanised Brigade said that he had believed the lives of the two soldiers were at risk and that troops were set to the police station to provide a safety cordon. He said: “We received information that they had been handed over to militia elements. As a result, I took the difficult decision to order entry to the police station.
“By taking this action, we were able to confirm that the soldiers were no longer being held by the Iraqi police.”
Brigadier Lormier said that the soldiers were later freed from a nearby house where they were being held by local militia.
Brigadier Lorimer said that the soldiers should have been handed to coalition authorities.
The two soldiers are reported to be safe and in good health.
(KMcA/GB)
The two soldiers, who may have been working undercover, are believed to have been arrested after failing to stop at a checkpoint in the southern Iraq town of Basra. In the ensuing shootout, it was reported that one policeman was shot dead and another was wounded.
Following the arrests, two British armoured vehicles, sent to Basra jail to provide a security cordon for the soldiers, were attacked by an angry mob and set alight. Soldiers were seen escaping from the vehicle, with their clothes alight. Three soldiers were injured, although the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the injuries were not serious.
The circumstances of the actual rescue of the two soldiers remains unclear. According to reports, an official from the Iraqi interior ministry said that the British army ‘stormed’ the jail with several armoured vehicles in order to free the soldiers. Basra governor Mohammed al-Walli told reporters that over 10 armoured vehicles and helicopters had been used in the assault on the prison, which he described as an act of “barbaric aggression”.
However, the Ministry of Defence denied the allegations and said that only a perimeter wall had been damaged by a Warrior armoured vehicle. The MoD also denied Iraqi allegations that 150 prisoners had escaped from the prison and said that the soldiers had been freed following negotiations.
Brigadier John Lormier of the 12th Mechanised Brigade said that he had believed the lives of the two soldiers were at risk and that troops were set to the police station to provide a safety cordon. He said: “We received information that they had been handed over to militia elements. As a result, I took the difficult decision to order entry to the police station.
“By taking this action, we were able to confirm that the soldiers were no longer being held by the Iraqi police.”
Brigadier Lormier said that the soldiers were later freed from a nearby house where they were being held by local militia.
Brigadier Lorimer said that the soldiers should have been handed to coalition authorities.
The two soldiers are reported to be safe and in good health.
(KMcA/GB)
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Two British Soldiers Killed Are Named
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Two British Soldiers Killed Are Named
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21 September 2005
Leaders deny Basra unrest
Allegations that relations between Britain and Iraq have become strained, following the arrest and subsequent rescue of two British soldiers on Monday, have been denied by Defence Secretary John Reid.
Leaders deny Basra unrest
Allegations that relations between Britain and Iraq have become strained, following the arrest and subsequent rescue of two British soldiers on Monday, have been denied by Defence Secretary John Reid.
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