The Black Vault - Iraq Vows Resistance to Invaders Will Harden

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's military said on Wednesday its forces had destroyed a British helicopter, 11 tanks and 12 armored personnel carriers in the previous 24 hours and inflicted large numbers of dead and wounded.

The communique, handed to Reuters, vowed that Iraqi resistance to the U.S.-led invasion would stiffen in the near future.

"The coming days will be more difficult and harsher on them. By God they have no way out of this deadly trap except to admit defeat and flee," said the 18-page statement, which was also read on Iraqi state television.

It also reported the first engagement of the elite Republican Guards in the fighting since the war started seven days ago.

"After the invaders received painful blows from the sons of Iraq, now is the turn of the heroic elite divisions of the men of difficult missions, the men of the great leader Saddam Hussein, the heroes of the Republican Guards...At dawn today they carried out their first devastating operations inflicting fear and panic in the hearts of the enemy."

The statement also said missile units fired 38 surface-to-surface missiles at enemy positions and reported direct hits.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2453778