Aussies Dispose Of WW II Ordnance In Kiribati
(Sydney Morning Herald)
An Australian Defense Force task force has been deployed to Kiribati to help dispose of unexploded ordnance (UXO) from World War II, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said the 22-person joint task force had been deployed after a request for help from the Kiribati government.
Fitzgibbon said the team left for Kiribati on a Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules and will help dispose of artillery projectiles, aerial bombs, rockets, mortars and mines.
"The ADF has world-class skills, expertise and capability in conducting explosive ordnance disposal and is happy to be assisting our regional neighbor with this important work,” he said.
The task force, comprised mainly of Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel, is expected to return on August 26.
Kiribati was occupied by the Japanese during WWII and most of the unexploded ordnance dates back to then.
http://news.smh.com.au/national/adf-to-help-kiribati-clean-up-bombs-20080808-3s8k.html
