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http://www.smh.com.au/news/0201/09/world/world3.html Sydney Morning Herald January 9, 2002 Australia takes over Iraq blockade while US hunts for al-Qaeda fugitives By Tom Allard Australia has taken command of the multinational fleet enforcing the economic blockade of Iraq in the Arabian Gulf, freeing up US commanders to prevent al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters from escaping by sea further south. Captain Allan Du Toit, the commander of the Royal Australian Navy's task group in the Middle East, formally took over the command of the multinational interception force at the weekend, moving from HMAS Kanimbla to a US ship to take up the post. It is not the first time an Australian has commanded US and other personnel but, according to the Department of Defence, it is a huge compliment to the skill and dedication of Australian troops. Along with HMAS Kanimbla, HMAS Sydney and HMAS Adelaide, the interception force contains ships and personnel from the US, Britain and Canada. Its task is to prevent ships smuggling goods in and out of Iraq in defiance of the United Nations-sanctioned economic blockade aimed at putting pressure on the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein. The decade-long blockade has antagonised many Muslims around the world and is being exploited by the al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden. "It's not in our interests," said a spokesman for the Lebanese Muslim Association of Australia, Keysar Tard. "The blockade has led to 1.5million civilians, half of them children, dying in Iraq." A particular focus of the force has been stopping oil - Iraq's main foreign currency earner - leaving by ship for other countries. The department's spokesman, Brigadier Gary Bornholt, said HMAS Adelaide was involved in boarding two "sanction violators" in the north Arabian Gulf this week. Another ship suspected of carrying smuggled goods turned back to Iraq after seeing the ships being apprehended, he said. "[Australia's command of the interception force] indicates the high level of respect both our fleet units and the command element has gained over the period of Australia's contribution to the international coalition against terrorism," Brigadier Bornholt said. Further south, about 80 ships and submarines - mostly from the US and under US command - are patrolling the Arabian Gulf along the coast of Pakistan to stop ships smuggling out al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders. They are being supported by 24-hour air surveillance. Meanwhile, Australian special forces continue to operate south of Khandahar, undertaking patrols and clearing abandoned enemy locations, including al-Qaeda training camps. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
