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Posted on 04/12/2003 8:54:18 AM PDT by knighthawk
NEW DELHI: "In a war you cannot guarantee anything" says Delhi-based Syrian journalist Dr Waiel S H Awwad, who has been reporting for the Al Arabiya channel on the Iraq war. Dr Awwad should know. His quest for `the other side' of the story led to his capture by Iraqi forces until a fortuitous escape, hours before he was to be handed over to 'Chemical Ali.'
Covering the war from Southern Iraq, there was only one option - to embed with the US troops. Awwad and his team of two Lebanese journalists were briefed about safety as well as given documents to sign, restricting what they could report and also absolving the US army and government of any liability in case of death or injury.
On his request, Awwad was moved to a frontline unit which was moving deep into Iraq. "The going was good. We were able to capture shooting, interviews with PoWs near the front. But I wanted to see the weaker side of the war. I asked the American army officers in charge whether I could go ahead. They said the situation was safe. Three British checkpoints, and they said it was safe. We entered the small town of Bargasiya and right then they began shooting at us. Only our satellite dish protected us. I think the coalition forces pushed us forward as decoys. They told us it was safe when it was not. We were the first to enter the town.
"We veered left and sought help from some Iraqi houses. We told them we were Arab journalists come to cover the resistance. The resistance force was in control. A crowd had gathered. There was slogan shouting in favour of Saddam. We were dressed like Americans so they thought we were Americans, or American spies. We were taken to the headquarters of the Baath party."
Awwad says what he saw in those seven nights and eight days was genuine resistance. "Though people were badly equipped, they were fighting against a colonial power, whether you call it for Saddam or not.
All that went in favour of Awwad and his team was the fact that some had seen him from his days as a correspondent for the MBC (Middleast Broadcasting Corporation) for whom he continues to report.
"At one time they came and said they had found an Iranian passport and a pistol in our vehicle. This was planted evidence and I thought it meant our end. They said a message had come to hand us over to Chemical Ali in the evening. Meanwhile, some civilians came there and offered to smuggle us out. They told the owner of the house that he should avoid being targeted by both sides. They gave me Arabian clothes, my colleagues Iraqi clothes. We were taken out and dropped off near the British checkpoint where they already knew of our disappearance."
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