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Election Day - 30 January 2005.
An RAF Chinook arrives to pick up
a joint British and Iraqi patrol
conducting vehicle checks as
part of the heightened security
for the elections
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A British patrol receives a
very friendly welcome in
At Tannumah, Basrah, as
it arrives to support Iraqi police
with security during the final
run-up to the election
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A soldier provides top-cover
for an Iraqi policeman manning
a security chicane in Basrah.
Iraqi security forces are very
much in the lead, with the
MND(SE) troops providing support
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Hassan Abu Ahmed al-Rashid,
the Governor of Basrah, opens the
new bridge at Al Faihaa on 18
January 2005. The bridge was
constructed by the Basrah
Engineering Company with
assistance from MND(SE). The
Governor was joined at the event
by Brigadier Paul Gibson of 4th
Armoured Brigade, the commander
of the Iraqi 10th Division, and the
head of the Engineering Company
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Captain Abbirose Adey, a TA
officer serving as the British Army's
representative alongside Iraqi officials
coordinating the refurbishment of
Basrah's hospitals, holds a baby
delivered in the new maternity ward
just completed at Al Faihaa General
Hospital, a former Iraqi military
hospital now converted to look after
the needs of the local community.
The construction work was funded by
UK grants and implemented by
Iraqi workers
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The first of the Hajj
pilgrimage flights
departed from Basrah for Jeddah on 3 January 2005.
From 4 January, three
Hajj flights are planned per day from
Basrah, each carrying up to 300
pilgrims. The Hajj flights from Basrah
are the first in living memory.
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The first commercial flight
to land at Basrah International
Airport since the conflict in 2003
arrives on New Year's Day 2005.
The Iraqi Airlines flight carried 50
passengers including airline staff
arriving at Basrah to prepare the
Hajj pilgrimage flights to Mecca
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New recruits to the Iraqi Coastal
Defence Regiment pass out in a
ceremony at Umm Qasr, following
training by instructors from
the Royal Navy, including 40
Commando Royal Marines,
and the United States Navy
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The First Sea Lord meets during
his Boxing Day visit with
Royal Marines of 40 Commando
shortly to return home having trained
the Iraqi National Guard and Tactical
Support Unit, and provided a contingent
to support the Black Watch during
the deployment to North Babil in
November 2004
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An Army Air Corps NCO on
guard at Basrah Air Station's
gate on Christmas Eve.
To ensure military operations
are not compromised over the
holiday season, half the troops
celebrate on Christmas Eve, the
other half on Christmas Day
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