An explosion took place in an oil pipeline in Kirkuk, northern Iraq on Monday. According to reports, the pipe-line links two different oil fields. No injuries have yet been reported.
Meanwhile, Britain is to send two additional battalions - up to 1,500 soldiers - to Iraq immediately and may send further reinforcements once a review of forces in the Gulf is complete, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon declared.
The deployment follows the increase in attacks on occupation forces in Iraq.
Hoon said there was an "immediate requirement" for two battalions, plus additional specialist personnel and equipment, to go to the UK's area of operations in the south of the country, around Basra. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
