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SLUG: 2-300953 Britain / Iraq / S
DATE:> NOTE NUMBER: |
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DATE=03/20/03 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=BRITAIN / IRAQ (S)
NUMBER=2-300953 BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE DATELINE=LONDON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: British Prime Minister Tony Blair is convening his war cabinet this morning (at 8:30 UTC) to review the overnight military action in Iraq. Mr. Blair was told about the attacks shortly before they occurred. V-O-A's Michael Drudge has more from London. TEXT: Prime Minister Blair was informed of the air strikes about two-and-half hours before the missiles hit, as British military spokesman Lieutenant Peter Darling explained. ///DARLING ACT/// The British Prime Minister was aware at midnight that this attack would take place. ///END ACT/// The spokesman said the air strikes were based on intelligence and took advantage of what he called "a window of opportunity." There is no indication that British forces were involved, and British spokesmen say no orders have been given for a ground assault. About 45-thousand British military personnel have been deployed to the Gulf region to join 250-thousand Americans in the campaign. (Signed). NEB/MWD/AWP |
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