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Well-Known Member
22mar03
IRAQI soldiers in the country's south were found carrying new gas masks, a sign that Saddam Hussein might be planning chemical attacks, a British officer has said.
The discovery was reported by Lieutenant Colonel Buster Howes of the 42 Commando Royal Marines who are currently securing the Fao peninsula on the third day of their drive to oust Saddam.
Among the rundown weapons, ammunition and machinery found with the dead or captured Iraqis were some new respirators, with an expiry date of 2007, Howes said.
"This is a dark discovery and a stark warning to my men," the officer said. "But we are all very well drilled against the threat and cannot let it stop us in our mission."
US and British military officials have said their biggest fear is a possible chemical or biological attack despite warnings to Iraqi commanders to refuse any such orders or face war crimes charges.
Dozens of gas masks were taken off the Iraqis, but none owned any chemical protection suits, British officers said. They said four Iraqis were killed in the Faw operation.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,6172744%5E25777,00.html
IRAQI soldiers in the country's south were found carrying new gas masks, a sign that Saddam Hussein might be planning chemical attacks, a British officer has said.
The discovery was reported by Lieutenant Colonel Buster Howes of the 42 Commando Royal Marines who are currently securing the Fao peninsula on the third day of their drive to oust Saddam.
Among the rundown weapons, ammunition and machinery found with the dead or captured Iraqis were some new respirators, with an expiry date of 2007, Howes said.
"This is a dark discovery and a stark warning to my men," the officer said. "But we are all very well drilled against the threat and cannot let it stop us in our mission."
US and British military officials have said their biggest fear is a possible chemical or biological attack despite warnings to Iraqi commanders to refuse any such orders or face war crimes charges.
Dozens of gas masks were taken off the Iraqis, but none owned any chemical protection suits, British officers said. They said four Iraqis were killed in the Faw operation.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,6172744%5E25777,00.html
