THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF OIL ACROSS ROAD; TROOPS USING EARTH-MOVING EQUIPMENT TO CHANNEL AWAY OIL.




Initials AA/V-S/RM/EEH



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Background: BRITISH TROOPS TODAY (FRIDAY) ALLOWED FOOD LORRIES TO RUMBLE INTO ADEN'S BESIEGED CRATER TOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE LAST TUESDAY' FIERCE BATTLES - BUT THE SOLDIERS ARE STILL KEEPING OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT. AND THE MAIN COASTAL ROAD WAS REOPENED AFTER A BREAK CAUSED BY AN EXPLOSION IN A FUEL TANK.

BRITISH TROOPS GUARDING ALL ROADS LEADING INTO THE CRATER AREA AND WATCHING OVER THE DISTRICT FROM VOLCANIC MOUNTAIN RIDGES. ARMED POLICE INSIDE CRATER CARRIED OUT THEIR NORMAL DUTIES TODAY.

MEANWHILE THE MAIN COASTAL ROAD LINKING STEAMER POINT WITH MAALLA AND THE KHORMAKSAR AIRPORT WAS REOPENED AFTER BEING CLOSED FOR 20 HOURS BY OIL. THE OIL CAME FROM A 17,000 TON DIESEL FUEL TANK WHICH WAS PUNCTURED BY AN EXPLOSION YESTERDAY.

THE EXPLOSION WAS CAUSED BY ONE OF FOUR CHARGES [PLACED ON THE TANK. THREE OF THEM WERE PLASTIC -- ONE OF WHICH EXPLODED -- AND THE FOURTH WAS A BRITISH ANTI-TANK MINE. THE MINE FUSE FAILED TO REACH THE DETONATOR.

OIL POURED FROM THE TANK COMPLETELY CUTTING OFF THE ROAD. BRITISH SOLDIERS HELPED CHANNEL THE OIL ACROSS THE ROAD INTO THE DOCKS, AND A BULLDOZER WAS USED TO PLOUGH ANOTHER CHANNEL THROUGH EARTH AND FENCING TO THE SHORE.

AN R.A.F. FIRE BRIGADE STOOD BY IN CASE THE OIL IGNITED BUT THERE WAS NO FIRE.

A MILITARY SPOKESMAN SAID THE SABOTAGE ATTEMPT, ONE OF A SERIES AGAINST BAPTISM PETROLEUM INSTALLATIONS, MUST HAVE BEEN THE WORK OF EXPERTS, AND TAKEN HOURS TO ACCOMPLISH.