IRAQ: UNITED STATES FORCES CONTINUE SEARCH FOR PRO-SADDAM HUSSEIN ELEMENTS BLAMED FOR RECENT ATTACKS ON U.S. AND COALITION TROOPS

Record ID: 861137

  • Title: IRAQ: UNITED STATES FORCES CONTINUE SEARCH FOR PRO-SADDAM HUSSEIN ELEMENTS BLAMED FOR RECENT ATTACKS ON U.S. AND COALITION TROOPS
  • Date: 1st July 2003
  • Summary: (W5) SAMARRA, 130 KILOMETRES NORTHEAST BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JUNE 30, 2003) (REUTERS) TRACKING SHOT UNITED STATES SOLDIERS DRIVING THROUGH DESERT DESERT AND U.S. COLUMN PASSING (3 SHOTS) SLV U.S. SOLDIERS RUNNING AROUND; SLV U.S. SOLDIERS SETTING UP ROADBLOCK'; SLV ROADBLOCK (6 SHOTS) SLV IRAQI VEHICLES AT THE CHECKPOINT; SLV U.S. TANK DRIVING INTO ROAD; SCU U.S. SOLDIER; SLV U.S. SOLDIERS IN POSITION AT ROADBLOCK (9 SHOTS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FARMER, MOHAMMED HUSSEIN SAYING Saddam Hussein is not here, he is with the Americans, he is with Bush, they are sitting together and we oppose their presence here. They should leave our country." SCU U.S. SOLDIER GESTURES AT CAMERA; SLV US SOLDIERS DEPARTING FROM ROADBLOCK; SLV MISSILE SITES IN DESERT; SLV PAN MISSILES (7 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 16th July 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SAMARRA, 130 KILOMETRES NORTH-WEST OF BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • City:
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Crime,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA672LK6BAMEWDEFLH0EPTCH2DF
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Under scorching desert temperatures of more than 45 degrees Celsius, United States forces are continuing their search for diehard pro-Saddam elements who have been blamed for recent attacks on U.S. and coalition troops.
    The soldiers drove in a convoy through the desert north east of Baghdad on Monday (June 30, 2003) before setting up an impromptu roadblock in the hot sun, probably hoping to catch people unawares.
    Traffic stretched back for miles as they inspected vehicles driving through the scorching desert in the latest U.S. operation code-named "sidewinder."
    The Iraqis at the roadblocks, some bemused, others frustrated, offered ideas on the current location of their former leader.
    "Saddam Hussein is not here, he is with the Americans, he is with Bush (U.S. President George W. Bush), they are sitting together and we oppose their presence here. They should leave our country," said Mohammed Hussein, a farmer carrying two cows in the back of his pickup truck.
    The operation took place a short distance away from where an array of Saddam Hussein's missiles were still visible.
    U.S. forces backed by aircraft and armoured vehicles launched an operation on Sunday to crack down on armed resistance in areas north of Baghdad where Saddam Hussein once enjoyed wide support.
    U.S. troops detained more than 60 people and seized weapons and military documents as part of the mission, called Operation Sidewinder, across an area stretching from the Iranian border to the east, to towns north of the capital.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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