14 British troops wounded in street protests

The Telegraph ^ | February 23, 2004 | Jack Fairweather

[fdsa2]

Fourteen British soldiers were wounded, three seriously, and some set on fire when a demonstration turned violent yesterday in Basra, southern Iraq.

At least one explosive device was detonated and a number of petrol bombs were thrown during the protest by people who had failed to obtain work with the police and security forces. Witnesses reported that some chanted the name of the Hamas leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, assassinated by Israel. They said: "We are all sons of Yassin."

British troops face an increasingly violent stone-throwing crowd. Petrol bombs were also thrown A military spokesman in Basra said stones were also thrown at the troops, who responded with plastic bullets. It was not immediately clear which regiment the men came from.

At first there were suspicions that bombers had used the demonstration to draw troops into the area where a bomb could be detonated. But the Army ruled out any terrorist connection.

The injured soldiers were taken to the British military hospital at Shaibah, near Basra. The seriously wounded men were said to be in a stable condition.

Major Tim Smith, the British military spokesman in Basra, said none of those hurt was in a life-threatening condition. He added: "I want to commend their restraint under enormous pressure in dealing with the situation with the minimum of force.

"There is no evidence whatsoever to link this incident with any other, or with political events elsewhere.

"Investigations are continuing but at present we are treating it only as a public order matter."

Basra, Iraq's second city, was occupied by British troops during last year's war and is widely seen as being easier to police because its mainly Shi'ite population was opposed to Saddam Hussein.

Adam Ingram, the defence minister, told the Commons that there had been reports of two blasts. But after investigations the Army said it thought that there had been only one explosive device and a number of petrol bombs.

[fdsa2]

Keep safe lads!!!

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

"At least one explosive device was detonated and a number of petrol bombs were thrown during the protest by people who had failed to obtain work with the police and security forces."

I'm not familiar with this job-hunting technique. Sounds to me that the Brits were quite correct in refusing to make them police. If it were Spanish troops, the white flag goes up and the rioters are handed out badges.

On a serious note, God bless the British troops. May angels protect them.

[FierceDraka]

Witnesses reported that some chanted the name of the Hamas leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, assassinated by Israel. They said: "We are all sons of Yassin."

Well if that's the case then raze the city and wipe out its inhabitants. Show those yobs who's boss.

[fdsa2]

Why not, as long as they do it with a smile (hearts and minds and all that...)

[Austin Willard Wright]

Kill all those babies in the cradle right?

[FierceDraka]

Nip the problem in the bud, so to speak.