gaz
04-08-2004, 07:02 PM
Hundreds more British troops have flown out to Iraq to help put down violent uprisings across the country.
More than 300 members of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment plus Territorial Army soldiers from the Glasgow-based 52nd Lowland Regiment left for Basra.
They will form part of the 4,500-strong 1st Mechanised Brigade.
The troops will take over the running of the area from 20 Armoured Brigade who have been encountering violent anti-Coalition protests.
Officers insisted their role was still one of peacekeeping and not confrontation, despite the upsurge in violence across Iraq.
Meanwhile, critics of the war have again lined up to slam the actions of the Coalition forces.
Former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said US forces were fuelling violence by "acting like warriors".
Mr Cook, who quit the Cabinet over the war, said a fundamental change of tactics from confrontation to peacekeeping was needed.
Former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam also criticised the action in Iraq.
She said the current hardline approach to the war on terror was "completely counter-productive".
Last Updated: 20:31 UK, Thursday April 08, 2004
Story here (http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13051767,00.html)
More than 300 members of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment plus Territorial Army soldiers from the Glasgow-based 52nd Lowland Regiment left for Basra.
They will form part of the 4,500-strong 1st Mechanised Brigade.
The troops will take over the running of the area from 20 Armoured Brigade who have been encountering violent anti-Coalition protests.
Officers insisted their role was still one of peacekeeping and not confrontation, despite the upsurge in violence across Iraq.
Meanwhile, critics of the war have again lined up to slam the actions of the Coalition forces.
Former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said US forces were fuelling violence by "acting like warriors".
Mr Cook, who quit the Cabinet over the war, said a fundamental change of tactics from confrontation to peacekeeping was needed.
Former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam also criticised the action in Iraq.
She said the current hardline approach to the war on terror was "completely counter-productive".
Last Updated: 20:31 UK, Thursday April 08, 2004
Story here (http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13051767,00.html)