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31st March 2003, 08:42 AM
"Iraqis Welcome U.S. Marines in Shatra
20 minutes ago Add Top Stories - Reuters to My Yahoo!
By Sean Maguire
SHATRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Hundreds of Iraqis shouting "Welcome to Iraq (news - web sites)" greeted Marines who entered the town of Shatra Monday after storming it with planes, tanks and helicopter gunships.
A foot patrol picked its way through the small southern town, 20 miles north of the city of Nassiriya, after being beckoned in by a crowd of people.
"There's no problem here. We are happy to see Americans," one young man shouted.
The welcome was a tonic for soldiers who have not always received the warm reception they expected after U.S. and British leaders told them the Iraqi people were waiting to be freed from repression under President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).
"It's not every day you get to liberate people," said one delighted Marine. "
***
"Intelligence reports had suggested that Ali Hassan al-Majeed, or "Chemical Ali," the cousin whom Saddam has put in charge of the southern front, was in the town.
But Majeed, who earned his nickname for overseeing the use of poison gas against Kurdish villagers in 1988, was nowhere to be seen.
The Marines had also received intelligence reports that an Iraqi general was holed up inside the town but arrived just too late to capture him, military officials said.
"He got away just before we got here," said company commander Capt. Mike Martin. "We believe there are about 200 to 300 Baath party loyalists and Saddam Fedayeen irregulars in the town," he added.
The Fedayeen paramilitary forces had also fled.
Marines found a light still on and the telephone ringing when they entered what was thought to be their headquarters. "
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030331/ts_nm/iraq_shatra_dc&cid=564&ncid=1473
20 minutes ago Add Top Stories - Reuters to My Yahoo!
By Sean Maguire
SHATRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Hundreds of Iraqis shouting "Welcome to Iraq (news - web sites)" greeted Marines who entered the town of Shatra Monday after storming it with planes, tanks and helicopter gunships.
A foot patrol picked its way through the small southern town, 20 miles north of the city of Nassiriya, after being beckoned in by a crowd of people.
"There's no problem here. We are happy to see Americans," one young man shouted.
The welcome was a tonic for soldiers who have not always received the warm reception they expected after U.S. and British leaders told them the Iraqi people were waiting to be freed from repression under President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).
"It's not every day you get to liberate people," said one delighted Marine. "
***
"Intelligence reports had suggested that Ali Hassan al-Majeed, or "Chemical Ali," the cousin whom Saddam has put in charge of the southern front, was in the town.
But Majeed, who earned his nickname for overseeing the use of poison gas against Kurdish villagers in 1988, was nowhere to be seen.
The Marines had also received intelligence reports that an Iraqi general was holed up inside the town but arrived just too late to capture him, military officials said.
"He got away just before we got here," said company commander Capt. Mike Martin. "We believe there are about 200 to 300 Baath party loyalists and Saddam Fedayeen irregulars in the town," he added.
The Fedayeen paramilitary forces had also fled.
Marines found a light still on and the telephone ringing when they entered what was thought to be their headquarters. "
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030331/ts_nm/iraq_shatra_dc&cid=564&ncid=1473