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Shells with suspected chemical agent found in Iraq US marines have discovered 278 artillery shells carrying a substance that tested positive as a chemical agent, senior officers said. Major Stephen Armes, operations officer of the Marines 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment, said the shells containing suspected blister agents were found on Saturday in trailers parked in a schoolyard in Baghdad. Three were mounted on launchers, he said. "They tested positive for chemical weapons," he said. But Lieutenant Colonel Fred Padilla, the battalion commander, said more tests were required. US forces who invaded Iraq on March 20 in a declared bid to...

Militia shells liberated villagers given food by British troops By Jack Fairweather in Gul Ashab (Filed: 04/04/2003) The villagers of Gul Ashab yesterday paid a terrible price for the welcome they have shown to British forces distributing aid in the newly liberated village. On Wednesday the entire village, just outside Basra, had gathered to thank A Squadron of the Queen's Dragoon Guards as they handed out much needed food and water. But early yesterday the village centre was in flames after an artillery and mortar attack by Iraqi militia groups Nine shells fell on the village, taking off the leg...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 November 11 The Outer Shells of Centaurus A Credit: E. Peng and H. Ford (JHU), K. Freeman (ANU), R. White (STScI), CTIO, NOAO, NSF Explanation: What causes the surrounding shells in peculiar galaxy Cen A? Last month a fascinating image of peculiar galaxy Centaurus A was released, processed to highlight a faint blue arc indicating an ongoing collision with a smaller galaxy. Another interesting feature of Cen...