A British soldier has been shot and wounded in the first sniper attack on UK forces in Iraq since the end of the war. He is being treated for gun-shot wounds to a leg in a British Army field hospital, Sky News reported. The soldier is said to be in a "stable" condition.
The soldier was taking part in a routine patrol on the outskirts of the southern city of Basra late on Sunday when it came under fire from two gunmen. The gunmen in Sunday's incident fled under cover of darkness, the rport added. A British spokeswoman said five illegally-held AK-47 assault rifles were recovered.
But despite the growing number of attacks, the U.S. occupation administration called two new city councils to order Monday — one in the southern Shiite city of Najaf and the other in Baghdad.
The councils — which join other municipal governments with limited powers emerging around Iraq — are expected to act as a proving ground for national leaders.
U.S. advisers also announced an initial economic agenda, including establishment of an independent Iraqi central bank, and plans to rid the country of bank notes bearing the image of Saddam Hussein. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
