Camp as Sayliyah: British commandos battling paramilitary forces in the South East
corner of Basra said they captured an Iraqi General but Defence officials in Britain
later denied the claim.
"We do not have a prisoner of war of General rank", a Ministry of Defence
spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity on March 30. It was not clear if the
British were holding officers of other ranks prisoner.
Group Capt Al Lockwood, spokesman for British forces in the Gulf, earlier said a
Republican Guard General officer had been captured. He said the General was believed
to have been sent to the Southern city to "try and strengthen the resolve among the
Baath Party militia and the paramilitaries that are operating in the area."
British military spokesman Maj Will MacKinlay said on BBC television that the
confusion should be blamed on "the fog of war". He also said British troops had
killed a number of Iraqi officers.
Agencies
