Iraq says four coalition soldiers killed in Al-Muthana

Agence France-Presse (AFP) ^ | 3-28-03

[Oldeconomybuyer]

BAGHDAD, March 28 (AFP) - Iraqi forces killed four soldiers of the US-British coalition and took prisoners in heavy fighting in Al-Muthanna province of southern Iraq, Information Minister Mohammed Said al-Sahhaf said.

He said the clashes pitted Saddam's Fedayeen militiamen and fighters of the ruling Baath Party against the US and British invading forces in the province neighbouring Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Thirty-three tanks, armoured vehicles and troop transport vehicles were destroyed, Sahhaf told a press conference in Baghdad.

The command vehicle was among those destroyed, killing four soldiers, while prisoners were taken from the other vehicles hit, he said, without specifying if the commanding officer was among those killed.

Sahhaf, in his military briefing, also said that a farmer shot down a plane in the same region while another destroyed a tank.

[battousai]

LOL its the farmers again, shouldn't this be under humor? :)

[Bahbah]

"Thirty-three tanks, armoured vehicles and troop transport vehicles were destroyed, Sahhaf told a press conference in Baghdad."
Not a very credible report, IMHO.

[Gefreiter]

This is the most asinine report I've seen all day. Of course it's early yet. You don't suppose people believe this do you?

[Mister Baredog]

He knows whatever he claims will be broadcast throughout the Arab world as well as CNN and NPR, truth is never an issue with Iraqi spokesmen, we already know that, it is a VIVID example of the moral equivalency the press is so good at.

[WOSG]

why do they bother reporting these lies at all? It's a farce.

[battousai]

Yeah with all these farmers shooting down planes and choppers, Sadam should fire all his soldiers in charge of AA in Baghdad and hire these farmers ;-)

Of course I bet the cheese eating surrender monkeys in France believe this stuff and lap it up.

[Stavka2]

I was buying the four killed...could easily happen...but 32 vehicles? Yeah, right. One, maybe two...three max in an ambush...but 32? A company wiped out?

[WOSG]

This is true. the media will report lies with equal balance to the truth.

[ladtx]

"Thirty-three tanks, armoured vehicles and troop transport vehicles were destroyed, Sahhaf told a press conference in Baghdad."

He forgot to mention they were Iraqii vehicles.

[Coop]

He knows whatever he claims will be broadcast throughout the Arab world as well as CNN and NPR, truth is never an issue with Iraqi spokesmen, we already know that, it is a VIVID example of the moral equivalency the press is so good at.

Now you're not being very fair. Why, Al Jazeera just won an award!

[Bahbah]

LOL. Minor detail.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

You don't suppose people believe this do you?

Yes. In Lebanon, Gaza, Cairo, Syria, NPR, ACLU, Rainbow/PUSH, NAACP, CNN, NYT, LAT, DNC, and in Tom Daschle's re-election campaign team.

[Mister Baredog]

Now you're not being very fair. Why, Al Jazeera just won an award!

Yea, a Presidential award from Saddam for their "fair and balanced" journalism.

[stands2reason]

Hey, I'm shocked that AFP actually put "Iraq says" in the title....usually they don't bother and report it as straight truth...

[Jaxter]