MichaelC
03-25-2003, 11:34 AM
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,82088,00.html
Report: Shiites Rising Up Against Saddam
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
FOXNEWS
CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar — The Shiite majority in Basra have started a popular uprising against Saddam Hussein's forces, Sky News reported Tuesday.
Iraqi forces are reportedly firing at the Shiite protesters, who have the support of British troops in the area. British forces have captured the top Baath party official, a U.K. spokesman said. Earlier Tuesday, Air Force Major Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr. said the situation in Basra was fragile and that an uprising was possible.
At a press briefing at U.S. Central Command in Qatar, Reunart Jr. said a vast majority of the Shiites have been oppressed by Saddam's regime for years. "I think that they feel a threat to their security by these Baath party, special Republican Guard troops, that they're terrorizining their neighborhood," he said. British and U.S. forces wanted the people of Basra to attack soldiers loyal to Saddam, Reuters reported.
In an about-face, British forces said Tuesday they have decided to move against militia fighters who have prevented them from securing Basra, a city in southern Iraq and Iraq's second-largest city. Previously, coalition forces said they wanted to avoid urban combat there. The decision to declare parts of Basra "military targets" came after U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned of a humanitarian crisis in the city and said "urgent measures" had to be taken to restore electricity and water.
British forces have surrounded the city and secured its airport but have continued to face pockets of resistance, including members of Saddam's elite Fedayeen paramilitary force. On Monday there were artillery exchanges throughout the day.
Full article at FoxNews link posted above.
Report: Shiites Rising Up Against Saddam
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
FOXNEWS
CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar — The Shiite majority in Basra have started a popular uprising against Saddam Hussein's forces, Sky News reported Tuesday.
Iraqi forces are reportedly firing at the Shiite protesters, who have the support of British troops in the area. British forces have captured the top Baath party official, a U.K. spokesman said. Earlier Tuesday, Air Force Major Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr. said the situation in Basra was fragile and that an uprising was possible.
At a press briefing at U.S. Central Command in Qatar, Reunart Jr. said a vast majority of the Shiites have been oppressed by Saddam's regime for years. "I think that they feel a threat to their security by these Baath party, special Republican Guard troops, that they're terrorizining their neighborhood," he said. British and U.S. forces wanted the people of Basra to attack soldiers loyal to Saddam, Reuters reported.
In an about-face, British forces said Tuesday they have decided to move against militia fighters who have prevented them from securing Basra, a city in southern Iraq and Iraq's second-largest city. Previously, coalition forces said they wanted to avoid urban combat there. The decision to declare parts of Basra "military targets" came after U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned of a humanitarian crisis in the city and said "urgent measures" had to be taken to restore electricity and water.
British forces have surrounded the city and secured its airport but have continued to face pockets of resistance, including members of Saddam's elite Fedayeen paramilitary force. On Monday there were artillery exchanges throughout the day.
Full article at FoxNews link posted above.