Sandstorms Hamper US Advance in Iraq - 26 March, 2003

A large-scale attack by the US-led coalition on the besieged town of Basra has been aborted due to a sandstorm in the region. Reports on the sandstorm have been carried by Syrian news agencies. According to some sources, US Marines were forced to give up plans to storm the city due to almost zero visibility.

As Rosbalt reported earlier, Western sources claim that an anti-government uprising began today in Basra. The Iraqi government has denied these reports.

Yesterday, the US-led coalition had to cancel a planned attack on Baghdad again due a sandstorm that began in the area. This was reported by the Arab TV station al-Arabian. According to the station, US and British troops are already within 20 kilometres of the Iraqi capital.

The Iraqi government denies these reports. According to the Iraqi Defence Ministry, the coalition was driven back from Baghdad 'not by a storm, but by the Iraqi army's opposition.'