Desert Rats have regime 'on the run'

THE commander of Britain’s Desert Rats declared last night that the Iraqi regime in Basra was "on the run" as his troops continued their push into the city.

Brig Graham Binns, the commanding officer of the 7th Armoured Brigade, the Desert Rats, said that the ability of Saddam Hussein’s paramilitaries to coerce the population of Basra into fighting was "evaporating", and predicted that their "days are limited".

His assessment was delivered only hours after reports in Arab papers that the Ba’ath party in Basra was preparing to surrender as soon as Baghdad is taken.

Binns insisted that he had no specific knowledge that this was the case, but expressed confidence that victory in Basra, Iraq’s second largest city, was on the horizon.

"I genuinely believe that the regime in Basra is on the run. They survive in Basra because of their ability to coerce and impose their will on the people and that ability is evaporating," he said.

"Our intelligence tells us that morale is low among the defenders of the city, that the population is glad to see us, can’t wait to see us, and the opposition, such as it is, is unco-ordinated."

Binns, who was speaking from the Desert Rats’ forward base just four miles from the centre of Basra, with the city’s minarets clearly visible in the background, said that although there remained a need for some caution, the level of opposition to British forces was declining.

"I can’t put numbers on it but it is certainly diminishing over time and the fact we are now on the outskirts of Basra is a sign that the opposition is less co-ordinated than it was.

"We are fighting against militiamen, some of them determined, but there doesn’t appear to be a great deal of command and control.

"I don’t want to be over optimistic because it is a city of 1.3 million, which is the size of Birmingham squeezed into Derby, but we are pressing forward in all directions. So I am very happy with the way it is going."

As Binns spoke, troops from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guard battle group, which is spearheading the advance into Basra, continued to press into the outer edges of the city, mounting forays into several districts.

Such operations are expected to continue over the coming days as part of a step-by-step progress towards the city centre and seizure of control of Basra.

Binns said that despite the progress made by British forces in recent days, he was unaware of any intelligence suggesting an imminent Ba’ath party surrender in Basra. He accepted, however, that the fall of Baghdad could prove crucial.

"I haven’t heard any reports like that, but I think there is a linkage between Baghdad and Basra, even though the regime in Basra, such as it exists, appears isolated and I can’t perceive of any co-ordination between the two.

"I think the coalition has had significant success in getting to Baghdad, while what we are seeing here is an operation that will eventually result in the liberation of Basra.

"The population is reacting well and seems to be welcoming us. The days of the regime are limited."

British troops push into Basra

A British soldier returns fire at the entrance to Basra
British soldiers are engaged in fierce fighting as commanders confirm a major operation is under way in Basra, southern Iraq.
Troops encircling Basra pushed forward between two and three miles (four and five kilometres) from just north of a bridge marking the southern outskirts of Iraq's second city.

The heavy fighting erupted as the sun rose at 0200 GMT.

Unconfirmed reports by Iraqi civilians leaving Basra suggest British tanks have reached the city's central Baghdad Street.

British army spokesman Colonel Chris Vernon told BBC News three 7th Armoured Brigade battle groups were pushing in to the city centre.

"One is meeting minimal resistance, one has almost gone in with impunity and the other one is yet to report in."

British tanks and American Cobra helicopter gunships repeatedly pounded a factory complex as Iraqi militiamen responded with machinegun and sniper fire.

While the fighting raged, looters descended on the building to steal whatever they could lay their hands on.

We've destroyed some armour and are now engaging bunker positions

Captain Alex Cosby of the Irish Guard

Troops of the Irish Guard and the Royal Scots Dragoons Guard, about 14 Challenger II tanks and 14 Warrior armoured personnel carriers advanced to within about four and a half miles (seven kilometres) of the city centre, according to Captain Alex Cosby of the Irish Guard.

"We've gone up to the roundabout that marks the gates of Basra.

"We met resistance - but a lot has been destroyed.

"We've destroyed some armour and are now engaging bunker positions."

British forces spokesman Group Captain Al Lockwood told BBC News the troops' "aggressive patrolling" was intended to "penetrate deeper into the city" and "finally sort out" the paramilitaries.

"It's all going very well - but we're treading carefully.

"We're getting valuable assistance from the people of Basra," he added.

"The rapport is building.

We will liberate Basra

British forces spokesman Group Captain Al Lockwood

"We're providing humanitarian aid, talking to them, showing them we're doing everything we can but that our greatest concern is them.

"We will liberate Basra.

"We will get things back to normal for the people - but free of Saddam Hussein's regime."

Group Capt Lockwood said the British forces were "very keen" to talk to Baath party members in the city "and tell them it would be better for everyone, particularly the civilian population, if Basra surrendered".

"We would like a peaceful solution as quickly as possible."

Soldiers in city are handing out copies of a statement from Tony Blair.

Take control

The single sheet with a black and white photograph of a pensive prime minister promises the Iraqis a peaceful and wealthy life.

Neither Britain, the US nor the UN will control Iraq, it says.

The troops have also been ordered not to destroy or desecrate Iraqi flags or war memorials.

Only symbols of the Iraqi regime are deemed justifiable targets.

British soldiers' grim discovery

Early on Saturday, British forces attacked a Baath party building where the Iraqi commander known as "Chemical Ali", who is in charge of the south of the country, was believed to be hiding.

The building which Ali Hassan al-Majid had reportedly been seen entering was hit by both two air strikes and artillery.

On Sunday US Central Command spokesman Jim Wilkinson said the bodies of al-Majid's bodyguards had been found in the building.

The BBC's Caroline Wyatt, with the British troops, also said sources had suggested there was "good reason" to think he may have been killed, "and that would be very, very significant".

Qatar-based television channel Al-Jazeera said 17 Iraqi civilians, including nine children, had been killed in Basra by coalition strikes on Saturday.

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The channel's correspondent said the funerals of 15 people, who were part of the same family, took place in Basra on Saturday afternoon.

He said they had been killed when missiles hit eight houses in Basra. It was unclear whether these were the buildings targeted in the hunt for Mr al-Majid.

British commanders said on Saturday they believed that the high command was losing popular support and "on the run".

Caroline Wyatt said that was partly because of UK troops' targeting suspected officials.

"The British have been very active in the last few days in targeting people they believe are members of the Baath party, arresting them and taking them away.

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