NO ARMOUR NO CHANCE

THREE British military policemen were killed in Iraq yesterday when they were ambushed in a hired four-wheel-drive ...because the Army doesn't have enough armoured vehicles to go round.

As Tony Blair and those close to him were putting all their energies into trying to prove Britain went to war for the right reasons, it emerged that the men who died - and another who was seriously injured - were sitting ducks.

They were using a civilian Nissan 4x4 because of a shortage of military Land Rovers.

The Red Caps - who lost six men in June when hundreds of Iraqis trapped them in a police station - were on uniformed routine patrol in Basra when a gunman opened fire on their vehicle from the back of a pick-up truck.

As the Nissan careered across wasteland into a shop wall, the gunman threw three grenades into the wreckage.

The men's comrades in an armoured Land Rover on the same patrol escaped unharmed, but could do nothing to prevent the tragedy.

The MoD in Basra confirmed that the men were members of the 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police, based at the 19th Brigade headquarters - a former Saddam palace - in the centre of the city.

Last night, as British troops were warned to expect more terrorist strikes, an Army spokesman in Basra confirmed that a number of soft- sided, four-wheel-drive civilian vehicles had been hired locally to "supplement" a shortage of Land Rovers.

Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram later said: "I was shocked and saddened to hear of the deaths. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who have lost their lives.

"We will do all we can, working with the Iraqi police authorities, to ensure those responsible are brought to justice. Today's attack will not deflect us from our determination to work with the vast majority of Iraqi people who want to build a secure and democratic future for the country."

Defence experts warned that the tragedy could mark the start of a terrorist campaign by Iraqis, particularly in Basra.

Major Charles Heyman, editor of Jane's World Armies, said: "I'm afraid today's attack was just a matter of time. Over the last two weeks we have seen a good indication of what is to come.

"Today's deaths were predictable, as is, I'm afraid, a low-level insurgency campaign against the occupying forces in Basra and southern Iraq. There's no way you can get away from it - it is desperate news. Basra has been simmering for some time."

Former officer and defence expert Michael Yardley said: "We were always going to see an extended guerilla and terror campaign against Allied forces. We know that Saddam Hussein planned for this contingency - to bring chaos.

"It has been suggested that these are random attacks, but they are more than that, although we can't be sure who is responsible - 'holy war' Jihadists, remnants of Saddam Hussein's intelligence or Fedayeen militia."

Witnesses told how yesterday's tragedy unfolded at about 8.30am on the main city road in Basra - 4.30am British time.

Drink seller Salam Sadeh, 21, said: "I saw one gunman on the back of the pick-up truck fire several rounds at the Nissan. No soldiers in the Nissan returned fire.

"The Nissan began to swerve across the road and it smashed into the side of the bakery. After that, the gunman threw grenades into the vehicle, then they drove off."

Muhammad Husham, 28, who was working at the bakery with three colleagues, when the attack happened, said: "I heard a terrific bang as the car slammed into the wall and dived to the ground. I then heard an explosion and several machine gun shots were fired into the vehicle. When the attack finished, the gunman sped off in the opposite direction. Then another British patrol began treating the men."

British soldiers immediately set up checkpoints across the area as they began a massive search for the red pick-up.

The remains of the Nissan were lifted onto a British Army truck and taken away for further investigation. Military dressings, bags with IV drips and the mangled remains of the Nissan littered the area after it had been removed. An Army spokesman at the scene said: "All the men were wearing uniform. The killings were completely unprovoked."

Army spokesman Major Ian Poole added: "We are working hard to identify the attackers. We will look seriously at any lessons learned in regards to putting new measures in place." Dominic d'Angloe, spokesman for Basra's Coalition Provisional Authority, said: "We thought things had been calming down in the region. We are all very shocked.

"Most Iraqis believe whoever carried out this atrocity must have come from outside Iraq. It is quite easy for terrorists from other countries to cross the border here."

Tony Blair was being kept informed of developments at Chequers. A Downing Street spokesman said: "This again shows the courage and risks taken by our armed forces to build a better Iraq."

Captain Phil Packer, adjutant at the Royal Military Police's Chichester barracks, said: "Present in our minds is the terrible grief which their families and friends are now confronted with. Our thoughts are with them all in this very difficult time."

Yesterday's ambush comes just days after 23 people were killed - including top UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello - in the truck bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.

Yesterday British diplomats left their embassy in the Iraqi capital following reports of a "credible threat" of attack.

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