CAML batch query - valid XML?

Question

The standard format of a CAML batch query is as follows:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<ows:Batch OnError="Continue">
  <Method ID="">
    <SetList>288a3dfc-ec52-45aa-a370-4ab01e3d0a05</SetList>
    <SetVar Cmd="Save" />
    <SetVar ID="New" />
    <SetVar Name="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office#Foo">bar</SetVar>
  </Method>
</ows:Batch>

The problem with this is it isn't valid XML and thus can't be created with the System.Xml.Linq classes. The "ows" namespace is never declared before it is used.

Does anyone know if its possible/legal to actually declare the OWS namespace, and if so, to what? (Notice the ??? below)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<ows:Batch OnError="Continue" xmlns:ows="???">
  <Method ID="">
    <SetList>288a3dfc-ec52-45aa-a370-4ab01e3d0a05</SetList>
    <SetVar Cmd="Save" />
    <SetVar ID="New" />
    <SetVar Name="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office#Dog">5</SetVar>
  </Method>
</ows:Batch>

Answer 1

You don't need the ows namespace, Batch works just fine without it when I've called batch updates via web services.