csua.org/u/75v -> news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040503/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_brave_battalion_2
News (May 3, 2004) 46 Army probes Iraqi abuse claims at BBC (May 3, 2004) Opinion & Editorials 47 CPA policy misfires at Washington Times (May 3, 2004) 48 Limits to good intentions at Japan Times (May 3, 2004) Feature Articles 49 In a shattered city, confusion reigns at Globe and Mail. GRAY, Associated Press Writer NAJAF, Iraq - One of his friends was dead, 12 others lay wounded and the four soldiers still left standing were surrounded and out of ammunition. Samuel Toloza said a prayer, whipped out his switchblade knife and charged the Iraqi gunmen. Troops Reprimanded for Prison Abuse AP - 7 minutes ago 72 Prisoner mistreatment damages US at home, around the world : analysts AFP - 18 minutes ago 73 Army Unit's Hometown Appalled by Photos AP - 22 minutes ago 74 Special Coverage In one of the only known instances of hand-to-hand combat in the Iraq ( 75 news - 76 web sites) conflict, Toloza stabbed several attackers who were swarming around a comrade. The stunned assailants backed away momentarily, just as a relief column came to their rescue. I was trained to fight until the end," said the 25-year-old Toloza, one of 380 El Salvador ( 77 news - 78 web sites) soldiers whose heroism is being cited just as criticism is leveled against other members of the multinational force in Iraq. Secretary of State Colin Powell ( 79 news - 80 web sites) said recently the Central American unit has "gained a fantastic reputation among the coalition" and expressed hope that they will stay beyond their scheduled departure. Phil Kosnett, who heads the Coalition Provisional Authority in this holy Shiite city, says he owes his life to Salvadorans who repelled a well-executed insurgent attack on his three-car convoy in March. Masked protesters last week seized the cathedral in the capital of San Salvador ( 81 news - 82 web sites), demanding that President-elect Tony Saca pull the troops out of Iraq. Saca, who takes office June 1, has said he will leave the unit in Iraq until August as planned, despite the early departure of the Spanish troops under which they were serving. The other three Central American contingents -- from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras -- have already returned home or are scheduled to do so soon. Our rifles were just part of our equipment and uniforms. Hugo Omar Orellana Calidonio, a 27-year army veteran who commands the Cuscatlan Battalion. The troops, El Salvador's first peacekeepers abroad, conducted a wide range of humanitarian missions in Najaf. They provided books, electricity, playground equipment and other supplies to destitute schools and helped farmers with irrigation works and fertilizer supplies. The military was held responsible for widespread abuses. They were happy with what we were doing," Calidonio says. Then came April 4, when armed followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr seized virtual control of the city and staged attacks on two camps -- Baker and Golf -- adjacent bases on the fringes of Najaf occupied by the Salvadoran and Spanish units. Francisco Flores, the battalion's operations officer, said the surrounded soldiers held their fire for nearly half an hour, fearful of inflicting civilian casualties, even as 10 of their number were wounded by rocket-propelled grenades and bullets from assault rifles and machine guns. After several hours of combat, the besieged unit ran out of ammunition, having come with only 300 rounds for each of their M-16 rifles. Natividad Mendez, Toloza's friend for three years, lay dead, riddled by two bullets probably fired by a sniper. Two more were wounded as the close-quarters fighting intensified. The wounded were placed on a truck while Toloza and the three other soldiers moved on the ground, trying to make their way back to the base. They were soon confronted with al-Sadr's fighters, about 10 of whom tried to seize one of the soldiers. The Spanish didn't fight, and only after a long delay agreed to send out their armored vehicles to help evacuate the wounded. Salvadoran officers, many of whom were trained at military schools in the United States, say they're pleased to be working with the Americans. Story Tools Mail to Friend 83 Email Story Message Boards 84 Post/Read Msgs Printer Version 85 Print Story 86 Ratings: Would you recommend this story? Not at all 87 1 - 88 2 - 89 3 - 90 4 - 91 5 Highly IFRAME: 92 avg_ratings Tools Sponsored by: HP 93 Print better photos. Troops Reprimanded for Prison Abuse (AP) More 95 World - Middle East Stories 96 Six US officers reprimanded over Iraq prison scandal, clashes outside Najaf (AFP) 97 Stunned Sharon mulls amendments, next move after Gaza pullout referendum rout (AFP) 98 Death sentence reimposed on Iranian dissident (AFP) 99 Newspaper defends story of British troops abusing Iraqi prisoner (AFP) 100 Brigade brought in to end Fallujah violence faces break up: military (AFP) ADVERTISEMENT 101 click here Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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