Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4-14-03

TYPE=SPECIAL REPORT

TITLE=BRITISH POLICE SOUTHERN IRAQ

NUMBER=9-017

BYLINE=WILLIAM CHIEN

DATELINE=KUWAIT

/// EDITORS: Sound is in DALET/House Shared/Monday/"9-WCH-Kuwait-British Police Southern Iraq". ///

INTERVIEW: Colonel Chris Vernon, Spokesman for British Forces in Iraq

SOURCE: Field Report by Mandarin Service Reporter

INTRO: British commanders in Kuwait indicate they expect to restore order to Basra within 72 hours.

In Kuwait City, VOA's William Chien talks with Colonel Chris Vernon, spokesman for the British Military.

TEXT: Colonel Vernon knows humanitarian groups cannot get into Basra to do their job without someone establishing order. He sees this as his main duty at the moment.

///ACT VERNON///

We've increased our foot patrol on the ground in Basra. We have a lot of experience in doing this -- in Northern Ireland, for example. The purpose of this is to return to a greater degree of law and order, to set the conditions for humanitarian organizations to come in and return a degree of normality to the town of Basra.

///ACT END///

Colonel Vernon says that they are striving to prepare the necessary conditions for humanitarian aid organizations to work. He does not expect all British troops to be involved. At least one brigade will still be needed in Basra to mop up remnants of Saddam loyalists.

///ACT VERNON///

We still have 16 air assault brigades, for example, up around to the Ramallah oilfields, pushing up to the Euphrates. A lot of them will be involved . at the moment the 7th armored brigade and three commander brigade are involved in and around Basra.

///ACT END///

Vernon said that in some areas in Southern Iraq, British MP's [military police] have already asked locals to help patrol the streets as they try to encourage locals to take part in maintaining order. At the same time, this unit also listens for feedback and suggestions from humanitarian aid organizations and the local population.

///ACT VERNON///

They will form a joint coalition in and around that area. This is all a part of the process of trying to allow local people themselves a degree of self-determination to assume responsibility for their town and country.

///ACT END///

After U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld complained that some media outlets were reporting relentlessly on the looting that occurred after the liberation of Baghdad, and not reporting on the exultation felt by the locals in wake of the liberation, Colonel Vernon had this reaction:

///ACT VERNON///

Well, I've heard . the media seems to operate and people have short memories, but the current issue is law and order and creating conditions for the humanitarian organizations to come in, and we are working on that and speaking to the international organizations and the idea is to try to achieve that. But in the end that is their call and we cannot tell them what to do.

///ACT END///

(Signed)