From rxpgnews.com

Gulf & Middle East
Iraqi politicians say Harry would be 'prize target'
Apr 30, 2007 - 5:48:22 PM

London, April 30 - Senior Iraqi politicians have urged that plans for Britain's Prince Harry to serve in southern Iraq be abandoned because he would become a 'target prize' for insurgents, The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported Monday.

The deployment of the 22-year-old prince is under review by the British armed forces following the death of 12 British soldiers in southern Iraq this month - the highest monthly toll since the 2003 invasion.

The total number of British military fatalities now stands at 146, following the death on Sunday of a young soldier on patrol in Basra.

Harry, third in line to the throne, is expected to be sent to southern Iraq with his Blues and Royals Regiment over the next few weeks, although the precise role of his deployment is being examined.

According to The Daily Telegraph, a leading Iraqi politician from the Sunni minority parties has said that the prince, who is a lieutenant and troop commander, would become a 'target prize' for terrorists.

Allaa Abdulrazzak, of the Sunni Tawafuq bloc, said the young officer's presence could also damage the royal family's future relationship with Iraq.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Falah Shenshel, a Shia parliamentarian of the Moqtada al-Sadr bloc of parties, also believes that Harry would be at risk.

'Prince Harry, with all respect and dignity, must stay in his own country or he may expose himself to risk or any other thing. He has to respect the will of the Iraqi people, and the sovereignty and independence of Iraq.'



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