GWT: British troops outside Basra, checkpoint, smoke in distance

(29 Mar 2003)
1. Member of Royal Irish guards looking through binoculars across river at Basra (smoke comes from Iraqis burning oil to create smokescreen)
2. Various of soldier and another who is firing in the direction of Basra (unclear what he is firing at)
3. British Challenger tank drives past in direction of Basra
4. Soldier in turret of armoured vehicle, pointing down road in direction of Basra
5. People on road from Basra
6. Wide shot of British army checkpoint
7. Various of British soldiers searching people coming from Basra
8. Soldier looking under bonnet of car
9. Wide shot of people stopped being held for questioning
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sergeant Ian Pickford, Irish Guards:
"Basically we're checking all the vehicles going in and out of the town. The things we are actually looking for, hopefully, is ammunition, pistols, long-barrelled weapons, things like that."
11. Pan from British army soldier with sub-machine gun to line of cars
12. Soldier and cars
13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Captain Jimmy Moulton, Irish Guards
"The local threat is essentially from rocket-propelled grenades. Many have been fired from about two or three hundred metres (yards) in front of us and indirect fire, especially 60 and 120 millimetre mortar. There is the threat, also, the sniper threat but we are quite confident we have got it covered."
14. Abandoned Iraqi army vehicle by side of road
15. Soldiers at checkpoint
STORYLINE:
On Saturday, members of the Royal Irish Guards, a part of the British army with strong links to both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, were manning a checkpoint outside Basra, near the bridge on the road south of the city.
On Friday the soldiers and civilians crossing the bridge reportedly came under fire from Iraqi units on the other side.
The British soldiers returned fire.
The soldiers have been searching people leaving Basra in search of food and water, checking that none are carrying weapons.
Any who raise suspicion are detained for more questioning.
North of Basra, a British soldier was missing and believed killed after armoured vehicles came under attack in a possible "friendly fire" incident.
Four other soldiers were injured.
Britain's Ministry of Defence said it was investigating reports the soldiers - members of the Household Cavalry Regiment - had been fired on by U.S. warplanes on Friday.
The Ministry also said it was investigating reports several British soldiers had been kidnapped in Basra.

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...