Essex troops prepare for Iraq

Soldiers are being prepared to deal with riots and suicide bombers

Hundreds of soldiers from Essex are preparing to fly to Iraq where they will spend Christmas on duty in and around Basra.

About 500 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, which is based in Colchester, have been told they will fly out shortly to take over the security in the southern Iraqi city.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel James Bashall said the soldiers were being given special medical training as well as instruction on dealing with possible riots and suicide bombers.

He said the events of Wednesday, when about 26 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack on an Italian police base in Nasiriya, had sharpened everyone's minds to the risks.

Three main tasks

The unit will relieve a British Army battalion which was sent out to Iraq when reinforcements were deployed in September.

Lt Col Bashall said on Thursday: "There are three main tasks for us.

"Firstly to run a detention centre in the base; secondly to help train the Iraqi civil defence core so they can take over from us and finally we will be doing a lot of security work protecting military convoys."

Increased security

He added: "Clearly the situation, certainly after yesterday's attacks, does not look good, but it does sharpen our minds and makes us more conscious about the threat and our preparations to combat threats.

"Suicide bombers are very difficult to protect yourself against - it's a threat we have never faced before.

"The only way you can really cope with suicide bombers is to increase and enhance your fixed security around the base."

The soldiers, who will work alongside 20 Armoured Brigade, will take over from 1st Battalion the Royal Green Jackets on 6 December 2003.