Henchmen 'trying scare tactics' on freed town

Power brokers in Saddam Hussein’s notorious Baath Party are still trying to influence the freed people of Umm Qasr, the British colonel responsible for running the town said today.

Colonel Steve Cox has been dubbed the “military mayor” of the southern Iraq port town after becoming its administrative boss when British and US forces captured it last week.

But he said the former leading figures of Umm Qasr, all members of the Baath Party, are still trying to intimidate the locals from afar and scare them into not co-operating.

The biggest problem has come in the attempts to get the port, which is vital to the future of the town, back up and running.

“A lot of people are still frightened. People from Basra are trying to get in the place (Umm Qasr),” Col Cox said.

“It is all scare tactics. The management from the port are up in Basra and are telling them not to go to work.

“They are used to this idea that the Baath Party controls their lives.

“There are individuals who are trying to help but at a risk to themselves.”

One of the roles of Col Cox, deputy commander of 3 Commando Brigade, and his men is to assure the locals in Umm Qasr that Saddam’s terror regime can no longer reach them.

But they are fighting against years of terror and submission and many locals are still fearful the dictator’s henchmen can get to them.

Many shy away from cameras and those who have come forward to help restore the town are very wary when approached.

It is symptomatic of a population that has endured almost half a century of torture, executions and genocide.

The Baath Party has ruled Iraq since Saddam seized power in 1979 and its members dominate every key position in every city, town and village.

Many of those in Umm Qasr either fled to Basra when the advancing forces moved in, were killed or went into hiding.

Others have since handed themselves in and British patrols around the town and house searches have led to the arrest and detention of around 20 party members in the last week.

British troops in the town, mainly Royal Marines and Royal Engineers, are hoping the locals will gradually realise they are free.

There is a lot of work going on to that end and yesterday a water system was officially unveiled that will pump hundreds of thousands of gallons in to Umm Qasr every day from Kuwait.

Engineers also turned the electricity supply back on to three- quarters of the town for the first time in almost two weeks.

Marines on patrol and other soldiers in and around the town now walk the streets in berets and shirts.

They carry their weapons but they do not have on helmets or flak jackets.

“We have been like that for a number of days,” one officer said. “It is all part of the process of making the locals feel safer.

“They are beginning to realise we are here to stay and becoming more confident.

“They have been very nervous but they are slowly coming round.”