DATE=12/17/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243192 TITLE=IRAQ STRIKE, UPDATE (L) BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB DATELINE=AMMAN, JORDAN CONTENT= VOICED AT: (EDS:WATCH FOR UPDATES, ESPECIALLY TO INTRO.) INTRO: U-S AND BRITISH FORCES IN THE GULF LAUNCHED A SECOND WAVE OF AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ THURSDAY EVENING, IN RETALIATION FOR BAGHDAD'S LACK OF FULL COOPERATION IN THE PROGRAM TO ELIMINATE IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM AMMAN THAT IRAQI OFFICIALS ARE REPORTING HEAVY CIVILIAN CASUALTIES, ALTHOUGH EXACT FIGURES HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED. TEXT: FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS, U-S AND BRITISH FORCES STRUCK TARGETS IN IRAQ THURSDAY. U-S OFFICIALS SAID THE ATTACKS WERE AIMED AT MILITARY TARGETS AND AT FACILITIES WHICH THEY SAID WERE NERVE CENTERS FOR IRAQI WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. THE FIRST WAVE OF STRIKES, -- BEFORE DAWN THURSDAY -- TARGETED COMMUNICATIONS AND AERIAL DEFENSE SYSTEMS. U-S OFFICIALS SAID THEY WERE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL. IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER, MOHAMED SAEED AL-SAHAF, TOLD REPORTERS NUMEROUS CIVILIAN AREAS IN BAGHDAD WERE STRUCK, INFLICTING HEAVY CASUALTIES. ///AL-SAHAF ACT./// THIS AGGRESSION AGAINST IRAQ IS A CRIME AGAINST INTERNATIONAL LAW, THE U-N CHARTER. AND WE WILL HOLD OUR FULL RIGHTS TO HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE FULLY, THE AMERICANS AND THE BRITISH, ON ALL CRIMES THEY ARE COMMITTING AGAINST OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE. ///END ACT./// THE IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER ACCUSED THE U-S AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS OF LYING, SAYING IN THE MONTH SINCE INSPECTIONS RESUMED, MORE THAN 400 SITES HAVE BEEN VISITED, BUT ONLY FIVE CASES WERE REPORTED OF NON-COOPERATION. HE ADDED THAT SOME OF THE SITES HAD BEEN VISITED BY U-N INSPECTORS AND DECLARED CLEAN. REACTION IN THE ARAB WORLD WAS ALSO GENERALLY CRITICAL. DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE ATTACKS WERE STAGED IN EGYPT, JORDAN AND IRAQ. ///REST OPT./// A NUMBER OF ARAB GOVERNMENTS CONDEMNED THE STRIKES WHILE OTHERS EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE VIOLENCE. MANY CALLED ON IRAQ TO COOPERATE WITH THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION IN ORDER TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER ATTACKS. THE ARAB LEAGUE SAID IT WAS CONSIDERING AN EMERGENCY MEETING THIS WEEKEND TO DISCUSS THE MATTER. MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE REGION EXPRESSED ANGER OVER THE AIR STRIKES. THEY SAID ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT NECESSARILY SUPPORT THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT, THEY CONDEMNED THE MILITARY ACTIONS WHICH HURT INNOCENT CIVILIANS, WHO ALREADY ARE SUFFERING FROM YEARS OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS. (SIGNED) NEB/SB/GE 17-Dec-98 3:41 PM EST (2041 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
