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SPA-17-politics/Britain: regular Iraqi forces pull out of Basra LONDON,
Mar 22, SPA -- Regular Iraqi forces have withdrawn from Basra but elements
of Saddam Hussein's security forces arecontinuing to resist, British
Defense Secretary Geoff Hoonsaid Saturday. "As last night's dramatic
television coverage showed, thelights stayed on in Baghdad, but the
instruments of tyrannyare collapsing," Hoon said. "Certainly our forces
are close to Basra. It appears tobe the case that regular Iraqi armed
forces have withdrawnfrom Basra, but there are continuing elements of
Saddam'ssecurity services in position maintaining resistance,"Hoon added
at a news briefing. Britain's senior military commander said forces
whichseized control of oil fields in southern Iraq are nowworking to clear
explosives which had been left behind.--SPA1355 Local Time 1055 GMT
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Date :3/22/03
1:50:00 PM
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