Troops enter demilitarised zone

[chamo]

Allied forces today moved into the demilitarised zone straddling the Iraq-Kuwait border in preparation for the imminent attack on Iraq, Kuwaiti security sources cited by Reuters said.
Full Story (http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,917323,00.html)

[Larissa]

US-led forces 'moving into Iraq-Kuwait DMZ'
News agencies
19 March 2003


Confusion this afternoon surrounded reports that US-led forces have started moving into Iraq - with reports and denials amid the obscuring sandstorms.

News reports quoted Kuwaiti sources as saying the troops "walked in" to the demilitarised zone (DMZ) that straddles the Iraq-Kuwait border - seemingly in preparation for an imminent attack on Iraq.

But American spokesman denied that the attacks were already under way - although many US and UK troops have already taken up forward positions.

Long columns of US armoured vehicles advanced through swirling sand toward the Iraqi border today, positioning themselves to invade on short notice.

Movements at the RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire also suggest that US B-52s are being prepared for an aerial attack. The bombers would be able to reach Bghdad within six hours of leaving the base.

With just hours left before President Bush's deadline for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq, Major General Buford Blount III, commander of 3rd Infantry Division, ordered his 16,000 troops and 10,000 tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and fuel trucks to line up near the border.

The 3rd Infantry Division is the only armored force in the region and is likely to attack Iraqi defenses head-on. Troops of the 101st are expected to be flown in on helicopters to seize key installations ahead of the 3rd Division.

About 300,000 troops - most of them from the United States, about 40,000 from Britain - waited within striking distance of Iraq. Backing them are scores of attack helicopters and more than 1,000 airplanes.

At sea, the aircraft carriers USS Theodore Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman moved a step closer to war footing, getting ready to conduct operation flights around the clock.

Full article:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle...sp?story=388671 (http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=388671)

[Larissa]

Also at CNN's site:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/19/...main/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/19/sprj.irq.main/index.html)

And on AbC news:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/Prime...main030319.html (http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/Primetime/iraq_main030319.html)


(Edited by Larissa at 2:34 pm on Mar. 19, 2003)