Thousands attend military parade

(4 Feb 2003) SHOTLIST

1. Wide shot marching soldiers
2. Militia marching
3. Vice Chairman Revolutionary Command Council Izzat Ibrahim saluting
4. Close up Izzat Ibrahim
5. Woman militia marching
6. Close up women marching
7. Soldiers marching
8. Special forces marching
9. Close up marching band drummer
10. Soldiers dressed up as suicide bombers marching
11. Close up 'suicide bombers' marching
12. 'Suicide bombers and others chanting
13. Kurds marching
14. Young women marching
15. Iraqi officer presenting arms
16. CU stadium with spectators

STORYLINE

Thousands of Iraqi militia and military troops marched through the streets of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on Tuesday, commemorating graduation day for the Al-Quds Army Training Facility.

The ceremony for the recruits came just a day before US Secretary of State Colin Powell presents a report to the Security Council detailing alleged violations by Iraq of UN Resolution 1441.

The Al-Quds recruits undergo two months of training in basic infantry and weapons tactics, then are deployed throughout the country for military service.

If Iraq finds itself in a war with the US and Britain, these recruits will be the last class to graduate before such a conflict begins.

The ceremony was attended by the Vice-Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, Izzat Ibrahim, a close confidant of Saddam Hussein.

The recruits were exhorted to "resist any invader with all their might" by Ibrahim.

Iraqi officials have said that if an invasion of their country occurs "all Iraqis will take up arms to resist".

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...