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Pastimes : Clown-Free Zone... sorry, no clowns allowed -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: maceng2 who wrote (276655)	2/8/2004 5:59:42 PM
From: maceng2	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 436258

Osma will be shivering in fear on hearing this news... thestar.com Charles surprises troops in Iraq MICHAEL MCDONOUGH ASSOCIATED PRESS BASRA, Iraq (AP) - Wearing desert camouflage and boots, Prince Charles made a surprise morale-boosting visit to British troops in Iraq today, the first member of the Royal Family to visit the country since the ouster of Saddam Hussein. At a former Saddam palace in the city of Basra, the prince mingled with about 200 soldiers, shaking hands, sipping tea and praising them for their role in keeping security in southern Iraq. "What you're doing, many of you, training Iraqis to become almost as good a bunch of soldiers as you are, is . . . of enormous importance because this part of the world doesn't have much chance unless their armed force can learn a lot from your experience . . . not only in the military, but in the hearts and minds," the prince was quoted as saying by the British news agency, Press Association. Security was tight for the prince's 5 1/2-hour visit. His staff only allowed journalists to report that he'd been to Iraq after he had left for Iran - the first member of the British Royal Family to visit that country in 33 years. Southern Iraq, the Shiite-dominated region where British troops are based, has not had the anti-coalition guerrilla violence that has plagued Baghdad and mainly-Sunni central Iraq. But Basra and other southern towns have seen killings and violence blamed on local rivalries and revenge attacks on former Saddam backers. There are about 8,000 British troops stationed in Iraq. Britain was the United States' main ally in the Iraq conflict, deploying about 46,000 troops for the war, and has lost 58 soldiers since the start of hostilities. Charles met Jeremy Greenstock, the top British official in Iraq, and U.S. administrator Paul Bremer during the visit. "We don't normally take the prince to places as dangerous as this," said a spokesman for the Queen's eldest son. "The troops need cheering up. Hopefully, this will make a difference." Prime Minister Tony Blair has twice visited Iraq to meet British troops. His last trip was in early January. Charles arrived from Kuwait at Basra's airport in a C-130 Hercules aircraft. Wearing desert camouflage, boots and a flak jacket, he rode a Chinook helicopter across the city to the Al-Sarraji Palace. The palace, built in the 1980s for Saddam, now serves as headquarters for the British 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment. Shortly before the helicopter carrying Charles touched down, the sound of gunfire was heard over the city. There was no explanation, but Iraqis often celebrate weddings, parties, births and other events by shooting weapons. Inside the palace, the heir to the throne met men and women from the service on a terrace. "He asked about the situation here," Colour Sgt. James Wilson said after meeting the prince. "It's improved a hell of a lot since we arrived, and it's improving all the time. "It's an honour to have him come and find time to speak to the boys." Charles also met local Iraqi leaders, including Shiite clerics and Sunni representatives. He arrived in Iran late Sunday and planned to meet President Mohammad Khatami on Monday morning before flying to Bam, the ancient city in southeastern Iran that was devastated by a massive earthquake Dec. 26. "The prince is a patron of the British Red Cross and is visiting Iran in that role," said Andrew Dunn, first secretary at the British Embassy in Tehran. "It's an official but completely a non-political visit." The prince, accompanied by a small entourage that includes the head of the British Red Cross, will meet with earthquake victims and assess how Britain can help survivors and try to restore agricultural life. The last time a member of the Royal Family visited Iran was in 1971 when Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and daughter Princess Anne attended grand celebrations marking 2,500 years of monarchy in the country.