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Britain Sends the First of its Elite Combat Troops to Afghanistan
Tuesday, April 2, 2002
(2:53 AM ET)
The Associated Press

BAGRAM, Afghanistan
The first batch of combat fighters from Britain's elite Royal Marines was bound for Afghanistan after weeks of waiting aboard a ship in the Persian Gulf, a British military spokesman said Tuesday.

About 200 British marines are already at the allied base at Bagram, outside Kabul, working to clear mines. Some 1,700 British marines are expected to be at Bagram by the end of the week, a force that will replace a segment of U.S. soldiers who are headed home.

Lt. Col. Paul Harradine said the first 100 fighters would arrive Tuesday, though he would not specify exactly when or by what route.

Harradine said the troops would need some time to adjust to the climate at this former Soviet base in central Afghanistan, located about 6,000 feet above sea level.
(More: New Jersey Online News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

Dan