Czech snipers make Anzac service safe for NZ troops in Iraq

New Zealand troops in Iraq held a secret Anzac service yesterday, protected by snipers from attack.

Czech military police secured the site outside Basra early in the morning, before New Zealand troops and others took part in a dawn ceremony.

The commemoration took place hours after suicide bombers launched three co-ordinated boat attacks on the Basra oil export terminal, killing two members of United States-led coalition forces.

Officials said there was no damage to the terminal through which Iraq ships nearly all its oil exports, but the installation - 10km offshore - was shut down for a period.

The US Navy said four other coalition members were wounded in the attacks, which followed suicide car bombings in Basra this week that killed more than 70 people and which Washington blamed on Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda.

A defence force spokeswoman said the 61 New Zealand personnel had not changed their activities as a result of the attacks and had their thoughts elsewhere yesterday, taking part in the Anzac Day service.

Lieutenant Colonel Ants Howie, New Zealand's senior national officer in Iraq, said that during the ceremony the Czechs had a cordon around the area and snipers covered all approaches. "We were very secure."

The ceremony, starting at 5.30am, was held at the Commonwealth Memorial at Shaibah, about 10km from Basra, and commemorated those who had died serving in Iraq with British and Empire forces from 1914 to 1921.

To minimise the risk, there had been no prior indication that the service would be held at the memorial.

"The vehicles just arrived in the dark," he said. "The Czech military police company of about 50 men secured the area at 0400 [4am]. That included doing a search for bombs and improvised explosive devices.

"They put in a cordon, a ring of defenders, around the site. They had snipers on top of what is a very big memorial building."

Had it not been secure there was an alternative plan to hold the service at the New Zealand contingent's base, he said.

It involved about 120 people, 61 of whom were with the New Zealand contingent, along with 10 serving Australians, about 20 former Australian and New Zealand servicemen working in Iraq, and servicemen from Britain and other nationalities.

"It was truly an Anzac service in our view," Colonel Howie said.

"We had the readings, we had prayers, I gave the dawn service address.

" I invited the Anzacs present today to reflect on the legacy the Anzacs of Gallipoli have given us and to use that to inspire us in our work and in our service for our nation," he said.

"It was a very poignant service. None of us before now had expected to be commemorating Anzac Day on operational service in Iraq."

Australian Prime Minister John Howard made a surprise Anzac Day visit to Iraq, attending a dawn service at Baghdad airport. Automatic gunfire could be heard in the background during the outdoor service, while surrounding buildings were manned by armed sharpshooters.

Mr Howard said he was taking only a "small risk" compared with the enormous risks faced by Australian soldiers.

"I think it's very important that they know that people are with them," he said.

- NZPA, AGENCIES