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Deadly blasts that could prove terrorists remain a real threat
THE loss of an RAF Hercules transport aircraft to a possible insurgent attack on Sunday is likely to cast a long shadow over celebrations in Iraq when the relatively peaceful elections end today.

It may demonstrate to voters that the rebels are far from beaten despite an encouraging poll turnout, and that they are still able to carry out attacks with sophisticated equipment and technical skill.

Saddam Hussein bought hundreds of surface-to-air missiles in the 1980s and 1990s, but they require regular maintenance to be usable and accurate, military experts said last night.

Military sources in Basra said last night that the Hercules had been on an “administrative” flight from Baghdad to Camp Anaconda, the huge US airbase in Balad, about 20 miles northwest of Baghdad. This flight description and confirmation that the victims were nearly all RAF crewmen contradicted earlier reports that the Hercules had been on a secret mission from Baghdad with members of the special forces on board. The tenth victim was a soldier.

The implications of a possible missile attack are very serious for the coalition, which relies heavily on transport aircraft to ferry troops and supplies into Iraq because the roads are regarded as too dangerous. ...