The Queen's Dragoon Guards have invaded south Iraq

The Queen's Dragoon Guards, which is largely made up of Welsh soldiers, is part of the invading force on the Al-Faw Peninsula.

Troops of the Guards, who are known as the Welsh Cavalry, are also building prisoner-of-war camps in southern areas of the country.

Meanwhile, Welsh Assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan has said Wales may be asked to help create a devolved republic in Iraq after the war.

Mr Morgan said the assembly might lend its expertise on the creation of a new administration.

Iraq comprises several ethnic and religious groups, including the Shias in the south and the Kurds in the north.

However, Mr Morgan again declined to reveal his stance on the conflict, but did repeat his view that Prime Minister Tony Blair was right to give the decision to Parliament.

Rhodri Morgan said Wales could help rebuild Iraq

In the Gulf, a teenage soldier from south Wales - who is believed to be the youngest UK serviceman in the conflict - saw his first action on Sunday.

Private Ricky Fisher, 18, from Pontypridd, who is serving with the 1 Close Support Medical Regiment, was called upon to save the life of an Iraqi soldier.

Pte Fisher, who is an ambulance driver in the war zone south of Baghdad, celebrated his birthday on 7 March - the day before the final soldiers' flight out to Kuwait on 8 March.

Some families have had phone calls from soldiers, including Iona and Meilor Williams, from Aberporth in Ceredigion, whose son Richard also served in the first Gulf War twelve years ago.

"It was a very short phone call - just one minute only - but he did say he was safe and that they were 10 miles inside Iraq," said Mr Williams.

'Doubts'

Meanwhile, seven protesters chained themselves to equipment at RAF Valley, Anglesey, as part of an anti-war demonstration on Monday.

Another seven chained themselves together across the main entrance to the base, preventing vehicles from moving in or out.

Protesters targeted RAF Valley on Anglesey

RAF officials cut the chains and carried the protesters outside the base - no arrests were made.

A spokesperson for Cymdeithas y Cymod - the Fellowship for Reconciliation - said the protest was aimed at RAF Valley because pilots were trained there to fly on combat missions to Iraq.

Members of the Welsh Language Society, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, have also begun a 24-hour fast to protest against the war.

Among those who have already agreed to take part is Elin Jones, AM for Ceredigion.

The fast started at 0830 GMT on Monday.