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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: kumar who wrote (88234)	3/31/2003 12:36:04 PM
From: NickSE	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Red Cross Makes First Visits to Iraqi POWs abcnews.go.com GENEVA - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Monday it had started visiting Iraqi prisoners of war held by U.S.-led forces at a camp near the southern town of Umm Qasr. Britain said on Monday, the 12th day of the war, that about 8,000 prisoners of war had been taken. The ICRC's Middle East chief, Balthasar Staehelin, told a news conference a 15-strong team, including a doctor and six interpreters, registered about 100 prisoners after talking with the camp commander for several hours and touring the facilities..... ~~~~~ Iraqis Welcome U.S. Marines in Shatra abcnews.go.com March 31 - SHATRA, Iraq - Hundreds of Iraqis shouting "Welcome to Iraq" greeted Marines who entered the town of Shatra Monday after storming it with planes, tanks and helicopter gunships. A foot patrol picked its way through the small southern town, 20 miles north of the city of Nassiriya, after being beckoned in by a crowd of people. "There's no problem here. We are happy to see Americans," one young man shouted.....

To: kumar who wrote (88234)	3/31/2003 1:45:18 PM
From: KLP	Respond to of 281500

From Breaking AP News: Red Cross Visits Iraqi POWs, Awaits Permission to Visit Americans Held by Baghdad By Jonathan Fowler Associated Press Writer Mar 31, 2003 GENEVA (AP) - The international Red Cross on Monday began visiting prisoners of war held by coalition forces in Iraq but has yet to receive word that it can see American POWs taken by the Iraqi military. Balthasar Staehelin, Mideast head at the International Committee of the Red Cross, told reporters that 15 staff from the Swiss-based organization traveled to a camp in southern Iraq where coalition forces were holding 3,000 soldiers. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Although the ICRC is holding talks with Iraqi authorities, Baghdad has so far failed to give the organization access to coalition POWs. The Geneva Conventions requires Red Cross access to the prisoners. <<<<<< Since the U.S.-led war began on March 20, Iraq has acknowledged capturing six Americans, including two pilots. Staehelin said the ICRC had "indications" that access would be granted. The 1949 Geneva Conventions - which set basic humanitarian standards in armed conflict - empower the ICRC to visit POWs and monitor their treatment. After captured Americans were shown being questioned on Iraqi television on March 24, the ICRC said it was unhappy about the broadcast. The ICRC expressed similar disquiet over television footage of captured Iraqi soldiers. AP-ES-03-31-03 1246EST This story can be found at: ap.tbo.com