IRAQ: PARADE OF SOME 5,000 IRAQIS VOLUNTEER TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE PALESTINIANS AGAINST ISRAEL

Record ID: 376158

  • Title: IRAQ: PARADE OF SOME 5,000 IRAQIS VOLUNTEER TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE PALESTINIANS AGAINST ISRAEL
  • Date: 6th November 2001
  • Summary: (U3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (NOVEMBER 1 , 2001) (REUTERS(A)) 1. SLV VOLUNTEERS HOLDING RUSSIAN-MADE MACHINE GUNS AND LIGHT ROCKET LAUNCHERS ON CARS; VOLUNTEERS HOLDING RUSSIAN-MADE MACHINE-GUNS MARCHING; MV MEMBER OF REVOLUTIONARY COMMAND COUNCIL SALUTING THE VOLUNTEERS (12 SHOTS) 1.12 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABDUL BAQI AL-SA'DOUN, MEMBER OF THE REVOLUTIONA
  • Embargoed: 21st November 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA8YXEQIZ822HMLQPF7UIUMP18Y
  • Story Text: Some 5,000 Iraqis who have volunteered to fight
    alongside the Palestinians against Israel have paraded in
    Baghdad after completing a two-month military training course.

    The male and female volunteers, marching on Thursday
    (November 1, 2001) in military fatigues and carrying assault rifles,
    were trained in weapons handling and battle tactics and were
    the first group to take part in the mass training scheme.

    Government officials say nearly seven million Iraqis,
    almost one-third of the 23 million population, volunteered to
    join the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation in
    response to President Saddam Hussein's call for military units
    to be formed to help the Palestinians. The Iraqi leader
    ordered 21 divisions to be assembled to form the army.

    Abdul Baqi al-Sa'doun, one of the ruling Baath Party
    members attending the parade, told reporters that they were
    ready to confront any aggression and had prepared themselves
    to face up to any aggression.

    "We are ready to defend our country should any attack take
    place on us. We condemned the U.S. attack on Afghanistan
    although we don't have diplomatic relations with them but when
    we feel that any Muslim or Christian country is being attacked
    without any justification we will have our say," he said.

    Saddam Hussein, who has always taken a hard line towards
    Israel, said at the start of the Palestinian uprising in
    September last year that Iraq was ready "to put an end to
    Zionism" if Arab rulers did not defend the Palestinians
    against Israel.

    He also ordered financial support to be given to the
    families of Palestinian victims of the uprising. At least 688
    Palestinians and 182 Israelis have been killed in the revolt.

    Iraq does not share a border with Israel and the formation
    of the volunteer units is considered a symbol of support for
    the Palestinians rather than a form of serious military
    assistance.

    Baghdad fired Scud missiles at the Jewish state during the
    1991 Gulf War. It opposes peace agreements signed between
    Israel and the Palestinians as well as those signed between
    Israel and neighbouring countries.


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