UNITS OF US FORCES CROSSED INTO IRAQ, IRAN REPORTS
TEHRAN, 19 Mar. (IPS) Units of US troops, based in Kuwait, crossed the border into Iraq just hours ago, the official Iranian news agency IRNA quoted a member of the Shi’ite Islamic Ad-Dawa Movement.
"With this entry, the American attack on Iraq has become matter of a fact", Yasser Mohammad, alias Abu Ammar, said, quoting "informed sources" of the Kuwait-based organization.
In Washington meanwhile, officials confirmed Wednesday that "some Iraqi soldiers", estimated at between 15 to 20, had surrendered to the coalition forces on Iraq, Kuwait borders, but said nothing on the IRNA report.
Kuwaiti security sources earlier in the day had announced that the US-led forces had entered the demilitarized zone on the border between Iraq and Kuwait.
According to informed Iranian sources, Iran has also opened its southern borders with Iraq, in preparation for the "Al Badr Brigades" to cross into the Iraqi province of Basra at the same time that the British forces are expected to move into this region, coming from neighbouring Kuwait.
In his speech to the nation on Monday evening, President George W. Bush had given Saddam Hoseyn 48 hours to leave Baghdad with his family, or US and British forces would attack Iraq at "any time" he decides.
As IPS goes to the web, only 6 hours are left before the ultimatum ends, observers expect that the war might start at the time the ultimatum ends, meaning at 2 AM in the morning of Thursday, continental Europe time. US FORCES ENTERED IRAQ 19303