Iraq claims killing 23 soldiers in attack Monday

BAGHDAD (AFP) Apr 01, 2003
Iraq said Tuesday its forces killed 23 US or British troops in an attack on a coalition position in the south of the country a day earlier.

The "enemy soldiers" died and three tanks were destroyed in an attack Monday by the Saddam Fedayeen paramilitary force in Zhi Qar province, 300 kilometers (185 miles) south of Baghdad, a military spokesman said.

The spokesman said several US or British tanks or helicopters, including an Apache, were destroyed in separate violence in the past 24 hours.

He also said two Arab volunteers for the Saddam Fedayeen were killed in action Monday.

Iraq said Monday it had killed 54 US or British soldiers around the southern city of Basra, which has been besieged for a week by British forces.

The coalition only confirmed the death of one soldier during fighting Monday, a British bomb disposal soldier killed in southern Iraq.

SPACE.WIRE