US troops protect oil facilities and rebuild strategic bridge

(10 May 2003) SHOTLIST

Near Kirkuk
1. Wide shot of North Oil Company oil facilities
2. Wide shot of gas flares burning
3. North Oil Company sign and oil derricks (towers)
4. Close shot barbed wire, throw focus to refinery chimneys
5. Various shots of US soldiers on guard at site
6. SOUNDBITE (English) US Army spokesman (NO NAME):
"We have soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade who are guarding key facilities in the oil fields right now. We're guarding against sabotage, things that might cause damage to the oil facilities, the infrastructure there, because we know we want to get the oil flowing as soon as possible, because we know how important it is to the people of Iraq and the people of Kirkuk."
7. US soldier closing gate
8. Wide shot of oil facilities

Khazzar Bridge (on the main road between Irbil and Mosul)
9. Wide shot US soldiers and bridge construction
10. Various shots of US soldiers working to rebuild bridge
11. Wide shot of civilian traffic waiting to cross on temporary bridge
12. Highway sign showing distance to Baghdad
13. Various of US soldiers rebuilding main bridge as traffic crosses a temporary one erected alongside

STORYLINE

US forces in northern Iraq are keeping guard on Iraqi oil facilities and have rebuilt a key road bridge destroyed by retreating Iraqi forces in an effort to help preserve the country's key infrastructure.

The troops have secured the oil facilities of the North Oil Company near Kirkuk which, according to reports, restarted oil production in the last few days.

A US army spokesman said soldiers from the US 173rd Airborne Brigade were guarding key oil facilities near Kirkuk against sabotage because of the importance of the oil industry to local people and the Iraqi economy.

US army engineers also helped rebuild a key road bridge linking the northern cities of Irbil and Mosul.

The Khazzar Bridge was destroyed by retreating Iraqi forces in an attempt to slow down the advance of coalition troops.

Reports from the area said local people welcomed the reconstruction work.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...