190 Iraqis Desert Post With 50 Tanks and Surrender to Egyptians

The crews of 50 Iraqi tanks today deserted their positions in Kuwait and surrendered with their tanks to Egyptian military posts in Saudi Arabia, the state Middle East News Agency reported.

The agency said its reporter witnessed the surrender of the 50 Soviet-built T-62 tanks and the 190 officers and soldiers.

The Middle East News Agency said that the Iraqi deserters were handed over to Saudi military police and that they would be treated as prisoners of war.

The first word of the reported surrender came in what appeared to be an official description of communications between Egyptian leaders in Cairo and Maj. Gen. Salah Halaby, commander of the Egyptian contingent in Saudi Arabia.

A military source in Cairo, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed earlier media reports that the deserters were on their way.

“Fifty Iraqi tanks have announced surrender and are on their way to the Egyptian 4th Division at Hafr el-Batin, which will receive them,” the Middle East News Agency said earlier.

Hafr el-Batin is near the Saudi border with Kuwait, which Iraq conquered on Aug. 2.

Egypt has more than 36,000 troops among U.S.-led multinational forces pitted against Iraq. Egyptian forces include the 4th Armored Division and the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division.

Iraq has 2,200 Soviet-built T-62 and T-55 tanks in Kuwait, sources said.

The media reports gave no further details about the desertions. They quoted Halaby as saying that before the fighting began, his forces “made advance preparations to receive Iraqi forces that surrender.”