Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/5/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BRITAIN / BASRA (L-O)

NUMBER=2-301798

BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE

DATELINE=LONDON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The British military is encouraging militant supporters of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to surrender in the southern city of Basra. V-O-A's Michael Drudge reports from London.

TEXT: British military officials say leaders of the ruling Baath party of Saddam Hussein should give up now to avoid more civilian deaths in Basra.

This in reaction to a report in the pan-Arab Asharq al-Aswat newspaper that Baath Party activists want to surrender if Baghdad falls because they fear reprisals from the citizens of Basra.

A British Army spokesman, Captain Al Lockwood, told British radio Saturday he would encourage the Baath militants to give up the fight.

/// LOCKWOOD ACT ///

My word to them would be to take the initiative. There are many avenues available to them to contact our forces and if they wish to surrender the city we would help them enormously -- more than willing -- and let's stop the fighting and any chance of civilian casualties.

/// END ACT ///

British forces have surrounded Basra since the early days of the campaign, which began March 20th, and Captain Lockwood says there is still no hurry to rush into the city.

/// 2ND LOCKWOOD ACT ///

In reality we can't speed the fall of Basra. We are conscience obviously of the people who live there. Their safety is our primary concern. We are treating it very carefully. They are becoming more confident in us every day. We are getting lots of very good information from people who are talking to us. And resistance is dropping off as the days go on.

/// END ACT ///

The International Committee of the Red Cross has said aid deliveries in British-controlled parts of southern Iraq have been chaotic. But Captain Lockwood said the criticism was unfair. He said in the past four days the British have successfully delivered 100-thousand meals and 750-thousand liters of water to the area's population. (Signed)

NEB/MWD/KL/RH