British troops torched by mobs in Iraq

LONDON – Two British troops held by Iraqi police were back in British hands, Britain’s defence minister said, as newspapers reacted with shock yesterday to pictures of troops being set upon by firebombing mobs.

Iraqi defence and interior ministry sources said British troops battered down the main doors of Basra’s criminal police headquarters and freed the pair, detained earlier on Monday during an intelligence mission. On reports that British troops used force to gain the release of their comrades, a Ministry of Defence spokesman told AFP: “We’re certainly not denying it but we’re not confirming it either.”The operation followed a shooting incident and riots in which two British armoured vehicles were torched as their crews fled for safety in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.British Defence Secretary John Reid said that the soldiers seen emerging from a burning tank under mob attack suffered only minor injuries – despite violent scenes which stunned British newspapers.”I can confirm that the two British service personnel detained earlier today by the Iraqi Police Service have now been released and are back with British forces in Multi-National Division (South East),” Reid said late on Monday.”I am pleased to be able to say that the British servicemen who were seen being injured in the graphic photographs are being treated for minor injuries only and are expected to return to duty shortly.”We remain committed to helping the Iraqi government for as long as they judge that a coalition presence is necessary to provide security.”The situation in Basra is currently calmer after a day of disturbances.At this stage it is not possible to be certain why these disturbances began.”Many of those present were clearly prepared well in advance to cause trouble and we believe that the majority of Iraqi people would deplore this violence.”Police in the southern Iraqi city of Basra said the men, who were wearing Arab dress, were detained after they opened fire on Iraqi police.Most British national newspapers featured pictures of troops on fire leaping from a burning Warrior tank.The Daily Mail ran the headline ‘Torched’.”Welcome to the surreal world of a ‘liberated’ Iraq where brave British soldiers are daily putting their lives on the line – and are cast as the villains of the piece for their pains,” the tabloid said.The Daily Mirror said it was a miracle that none of the men involved was killed, while The Daily Telegraph said the violence in the British-controlled sector cast doubt on the government’s plans for an early withdrawal from the south of Iraq.The Sun, Britain’s biggest-selling daily, paid tribute to the soldiers’ restraint, saying the temptation to lash out would have been huge.”Despite almost certain death, they refused to fire at their attackers.Few would have had the courage and the discipline to keep calm.”- Nampa-AFPOn reports that British troops used force to gain the release of their comrades, a Ministry of Defence spokesman told AFP: “We’re certainly not denying it but we’re not confirming it either.”The operation followed a shooting incident and riots in which two British armoured vehicles were torched as their crews fled for safety in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.British Defence Secretary John Reid said that the soldiers seen emerging from a burning tank under mob attack suffered only minor injuries – despite violent scenes which stunned British newspapers.”I can confirm that the two British service personnel detained earlier today by the Iraqi Police Service have now been released and are back with British forces in Multi-National Division (South East),” Reid said late on Monday.”I am pleased to be able to say that the British servicemen who were seen being injured in the graphic photographs are being treated for minor injuries only and are expected to return to duty shortly.”We remain committed to helping the Iraqi government for as long as they judge that a coalition presence is necessary to provide security.”The situation in Basra is currently calmer after a day of disturbances.At this stage it is not possible to be certain why these disturbances began.”Many of those present were clearly prepared well in advance to cause trouble and we believe that the majority of Iraqi people would deplore this violence.”Police in the southern Iraqi city of Basra said the men, who were wearing Arab dress, were detained after they opened fire on Iraqi police.Most British national newspapers featured pictures of troops on fire leaping from a burning Warrior tank.The Daily Mail ran the headline ‘Torched’.”Welcome to the surreal world of a ‘liberated’ Iraq where brave British soldiers are daily putting their lives on the line – and are cast as the villains of the piece for their pains,” the tabloid said.The Daily Mirror said it was a miracle that none of the men involved was killed, while The Daily Telegraph said the violence in the British-controlled sector cast doubt on the government’s plans for an early withdrawal from the south of Iraq.The Sun, Britain’s biggest-selling daily, paid tribute to the soldiers’ restraint, saying the temptation to lash out would have been huge.”Despite almost certain death, they refused to fire at their attackers.Few would have had the courage and the discipline to keep calm.”- Nampa-AFP