Danish soldier, two Iraqis killed in southern Iraq

[Kellanved]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Two Iraqis and a Danish soldier serving in the international stabilisation force in Iraq (news - web sites) were killed in a clash overnight near the southern city of Basra, a British army spokesman said.


"A Danish soldier has been killed overnight. He died of gunshot wounds. Two Iraqis were also killed," said the spokesman from Basra, without giving details.


The clash occurred in Al-Madinah, 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Basra, the spokesman said.


"This is the first Danish soldier to be killed" in Iraq since the war to oust Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), he added.



http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030817/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_denmark_toll&cid=1514&ncid=1478

[0007]

1. Denmark took one for us, 'eh?

How many troops do they have in Iraq?

[Kellanved]

2. 400

Under British command.

BTW the Czechs are considering to pull out their troops.
http://www.praguepost.com/P03/2003/Art/0814/news3.php

[KDLarsen]

4. 400?

I thought we were down to 200, since we apparently didn't have enough troops that were ready to go.

Let me correct myself: We do have 400 currently in Iraq, but only 200 are soldiers, the rest are purely administrative personnell.

I'll expect the "Get our boys home"-chants to get a bit higher now.

EDIT: According to a local paper, it could be a accidental shot from a another Danish soldier, that killed him.

[lanlady]

5. not really

The article says they may withdraw from guarding a hospital near Basra. Didn't say they were leaving the country.

[Kellanved]

6. I stand corrected

But it might be the beginning.

[BrotherBuzz]

7. They are planning to stay till hell freezes over...

Why else would they take snow shovels to the desert?


http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s900247.htm

<snip>

Danish forces in
Iraq armed with
snow shovels

Danish security forces in Iraq,
struggling with temperatures of
about 50 degrees Celsius, are
prepared for the worst - even a
blizzard.

The almost 400 soldiers from the
chilly Nordic are equipped with
snow shovels, brooms and a
lawnmower as they work to
restore law and order in the
war-torn country.

"It's all part of a standard camp
equipment," Jess Rasmussen
from the Danish Army
Operational Command's materiel
section told Reuters.

"It clearly should have been taken
out before shipment but on the
other hand it makes no harm."
<more>

[Kellanved]

8. The Danes are, but what about the Czechs?

:hi:

[izzie]

3. We think we are getting the kill number but what about.....

All the ones just in the hospital?