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A Scottish soldier has been praised for making the longest recorded kill in Afghanistan after shooting a top Taliban fighter from almost a mile away. Corporal Christopher Reynolds took out the Afghan drug lord during some of the hardest fighting of the war so far. The 25-year-old, of 3 Scots, The Black Watch, kept watch on a shop rooftop for three days to eliminate the target. But he admitted the top-level Taliban fighter – known as Musa – was so far away it took him a couple of attempts to get the aim right.

ROYAL Scots soldiers today bade a fond farewell to their loved ones as they set off for their final mission before the famous regiment is disbanded. Around 90 soldiers left Dreghorn Barracks this morning bound for Iraq. By Monday, more than 500 members of the 373-year-old Edinburgh-based regiment - the oldest infantry regiment in the British Army - will be stationed in Baghdad and Basra. While they are there, the proud regiment will be consigned to history, with the minimum of fuss. On March 28, the Royal Scots will merge with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers to become one of...

Iraqi, U.S., Scotch Troops Nab Terror Suspects American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 3, 2005 - American and Iraqi troops, as well as a detachment of Scottish Guards, nabbed scores of suspected terrorists and weaponry during a series of actions across Iraq March 2 and today, Multinational Force Iraq officials reported. Marines and soldiers serving with the 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, detained 26 suspected insurgents and seized several weapons caches during operations throughout Anbar province during the last 24 hours. Captured weaponry included two AK-47 assault rifles, two machine guns, a rifle, more than 500 small-arms rounds,...

Key points: 600 Scottish troops ordered to Iraq, claims 3000 more troops to join them Black Watch to replace 1st Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in July Shadow defence secretary questions if troops were adequately trained Key Quote: "It remains the case that we, with our coalition partners, are considering the levels and disposition of forces required in Iraq in the months ahead, to support the sovereign interim government of Iraq through the process leading to the election of a transitional assembly and government early in 2005." - Geoff Hoon Story in full: GEOFF Hoon, the Defence Secretary, yesterday ordered...

BRITISH forces stationed near the Iraqi border are ready for battle and are awaiting the final order from the government to join forces from the United States massing in the region before an invasion. Lt Col Nick Mercer, the senior legal adviser to UK 1st Armoured Division, said the rules of engagement for British troops had passed to the Cabinet this week and commanders in Kuwait were expecting to receive authorisation for action within a matter of days. Lt Col Mercer said that authorisation was expected to be permissive - which is normal for a wartime situation - and would...