A young Iraqi honored as the outstanding foreign cadet at Britain's military academy chose to receive the honor anonymously.
Authorities at Sandhurst told news photographers to take pictures of the officer only from the back, the Times of London reported. And he asked to be identified as Junior Under Officer Mohammed.
"I was very happy to be given the opportunity to attend Sandhurst and I was extremely honored to receive the Overseas Sword," he said after the ceremony of the Sovereign's Parade.
The young officer is the first Iraqi to complete the Sandhurst course since the invasion of Kuwait in 1990. He is expected to attend an advanced infantry course with more than 30 other Iraqi commissioned and non-commissioned officers before returning to his country.
Like other Iraqis who have joined the Army or police forces of the new government, Officer Mohammed is likely to be targeted by insurgents.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
