Human shield Britons quit Baghdad
By Charlotte Edwardes in Baghdad
(Filed: 02/03/2003)


Almost all of the first British "human shields" to go to Iraq were on their
way home last night after deciding that their much-heralded task was now too
dangerous.


Godfrey Meynell [centre] with other human shields at Baghdad South power
station
Two red double-decker buses, which symbolised the hopes of anti-war
activists when they arrived to a fanfare of publicity a fortnight ago,
slipped quietly out of Baghdad on the long journey back to Britain.

Nine of the original 11 activists decided to pull out after being given an
ultimatum by Iraqi officials to station themselves at targets likely to be
bombed in a war or leave the country. Among those departing last night was
68-year-old Godfrey Meynell, a former High Sheriff of Derbyshire, who
admitted that he was leaving out of "cold fear". He had been summoned, along
with 200 other shields from all over the world, to a meeting at a Baghdad
hotel yesterday morning.

Abdul Hashimi, the head of the Friendship, Peace and Solidarity organisation
that is hosting the protesters, told the shields to choose between nine
so-called "strategic sites" by today or quit the country.

The Iraqi warning follows frustration among Saddam Hussein's officials that
only about 65 of the shields had so far agreed to take up positions at the
oil refineries, power plants and water-purification sites selected by their
hosts.

It heightened fears among some peace activists that they could be stationed
at non-civilian sites. Mr Meynell and fellow protesters who moved into the
power station in south Baghdad last weekend were dismayed to find it stood
immediately next to an army base and the strategically crucial main road
south to Basra. Iraqi officials said there was little point in guarding what
they considered to be low-risk targets.

Iraq's decision to force the pace was welcomed by some of the 20 Britons
remaining in Baghdad. "It's only fair," said Uzma Bashir, 32, a college
lecturer who is one of the team leaders.

"We've come here as shields to defend sites and now the Iraqis are asking us
to make our choice."




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