Plot to kill NI troops 'thwarted'

Plot to kill NI troops 'thwarted'

Royal Irish troops have seized weapons of the Iraqis

A plot to kill members of the Royal Irish Regiment in southern Iraq has been thwarted, according to its commander.

Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins said a revenge attack on his troops had been planned by members of Saddam Hussein's ruling party in the region.

Lt Col Tim Collins, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment in southern Iraq, said the plot was uncovered on Friday night.

He said members of the Baath Party had sanctioned the execution of one or more men belonging to the Royal Irish Regiment as reprisal for its invasion of the area a week ago.

The commanding officer has ordered the immediate arrest of those behind the plot.

The bottom line, however, is that there will be no murders on my watch

Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins
Royal Irish Regiment

He said they are to be taken alive and locked in a high security prisoner of war holding area.

"The Baath Party operations officer was reported as having fled to Basra ahead of our arrival here but we have since learned he had re-entered our area of operations with orders to kill a British soldier. Apparently Baghdad hopes it will warn us off and make local resistance to the old regime crumble," said Lt Col Collins.

"The bottom line, however, is that there will be no murders on my watch.

"The kind of operation we are mounting against these people is not pretty but it is necessary. He might not wish to be taken alive because he knows we will hold him accountable for what he has done.

"We came into this area with excellent intelligence and we have since made first class local contacts. At the risk of their own lives local people have offered information to my patrols and it has been spot-on. This time it has saved the life of one of my men."

Civilian hands

The RIR said it believes the Baath Party aims to instil fear among local people to prevent their cooperation with the allied forces.

The regiment is currently engaged in peace-keeping and bringing in food and medical aid, as well as restoring power and water supplies.

If the Baath party were to survive there would be unspeakable reprisals against them

Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins

Troops have seized Ba'ath Party weaponry, including Howitzers, mortars, rocket propelled grenades and anti-aircraft missiles.

However, they have also recovered more than 150 weapons in civilian hands.

Lt Col Collins said he selected 30 SKS rifles which will later be given to the local population to form a police force and rural militia to restore law and order.

"We will leave them with defensive not offensive weapons. I think it is correct that the weapons for so many years used against the population should be put to work for them," he said.

"In Iraqi terms these people have sold their souls to the British - there is no way back for them now.

"If the Baath party were to survive there would be unspeakable reprisals against them - that is why we have to destroy their paramilitary operation here and its former victims can protect themselves in future."