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British Forces Use James Bond Code Names By JACK GARLAND .c The Associated Press LONDON (AP) - For British soldiers fighting in Iraq, the code names involved in their mission are hard to forget - for anyone who has ever seen a James Bond movie. Crackling over the British communication equipment come references to ``Operation James'' and its military targets, code-named ``Goldfinger,'' ``Blofeld'' and ``Connery.'' By alluding to James Bond, its star Sean Connery and some of the heroes and villains in the 007 movies, British commanders have several goals in mind. They include confusing the enemy, helping British soldiers...

British troops using light artillery and hand-held missile launchers have destroyed 17 Iraqi tanks in the latest skirmish in the battle for Basra. The Iraqi armoured column, accompanied by more than 400 soldiers and five artillery guns, was moving towards the city when it was attacked by British soldiers and planes. Using 105mm guns, mortars and anti-tank missiles, as well as calling for air support, they knocked out the whole column and " severely depleted" the two infantry companies, taking many prisoners. The operation, just north of the Rumaila oilfields, took place late last night under cover of darkness after...

IN SOUTH CENTRAL IRAQ, Mar 31, 2003 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Allied soldiers inched toward Baghdad on Monday, capturing or killing paramilitary fighters and Republican Guard while new waves of U.S. bombs set off blazes in the Iraqi capital. U.S. troops killed about 100 paramilitary fighters in and around the Shiite holy city of Najaf and seized several dozen Republican Guard in Hindiyah, south of Baghdad. The dawn assault on Hindiyah clinched control of the closest known point in the U.S.-led advance on Baghdad, where a battle with the Republican Guard, the best-trained Iraqi troops, looms. At least...

<p>BASRA, Iraq — Hundreds of commandos from the Royal Marines began the battle for Basra yesterday in a ferocious 15-hour assault on fortified Iraqi positions in a southeastern suburb.</p> <p>By nightfall, about 600 men from the 40 Commando unit had taken up what was described as a "consolidation position" in the suburb of Abu al Khasib and were planning to press on today toward the Shatt al Arab waterway.</p>

British troops trying to win control of the outskirts of Iraq's second largest city, Basra, say they have captured an Iraqi general. There are also reports an Iraqi Republican Guard colonel has been killed in fighting. Royal Marines near Basra have discovered chemical suits in raids on Iraqi forces, Sky News has been told.They made the discovery during a mission called Operation James - after film spy James Bond.Targets were given names including Pussy Galore, Goldfinger and Blofeld, all characters in the 007 movies.Sky's David Bowden said British tanks blocked off a major road junction to stop Iraqi troops breaking out...