REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Saturday, March 22, 2003

A LONE Iraqi soldier waved a makeshift white flag as US marines approach.

Others once loyal to Saddam Hussein downed their weapons, placed their hands on their head and surrendered.

Little more than 24 hours after coalition troops launched their first missile attack on Baghdad, Iraqi’s military appeared to be crumbling.

At least 200 soldiers surrendered to the US 15th Marine expeditionary unit just over an hour after it crossed the border into Iraq from Kuwait.

Scores more surrendered to British troops securing oil installations at Al Faw peninsular, raising hopes that Iraqi troops across the country had abandoned the Saddam regime.

One group of 40 Iraqis soldiers marched in formation down a two-lane road toward the Americans in southern Iraq and gave up.

They were told to lie face down on the ground and were searched by marines.

At the same time, marines cleared bunkers, emerging from one with two Iraqis with bound wrists. One had a dark grey uniform, the other was barefoot. Abandoned weapons mortars were spread over a large area.

Elsewhere, US troops were welcomed by Iraqi children, who offered them cigarettes, while other, adult, civilians ran up waving flags and cheering their liberators.

Earlier in the day about 60 Iraqis emerged from their bunker positions at the Al Faw peninsular and surrendered.

Their hands were up, and they waved white flags before getting on their knees ready to be searched and taken prisoner by Royal Marines from the 40 Commando.