DATE=11/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241758
TITLE=BRITAIN / IRAQ (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PAUL FRANCUCH
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR HAS GIVEN DETAILS OF
THE BRITISH AND U-S PLANS TO STRIKE IRAQ THIS PAST SATURDAY IF
SADDAM HUSSEIN'S GOVERNMENT FAILED TO ALLOW U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTORS TO RESUME THEIR WORK. THE BRITISH LEADER ALSO TOLD
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS (MONDAY) THAT BRITAIN HAS NOT LET DOWN
ITS GUARD OVER IRAQ, AS V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH REPORTS.
TEXT: PRIME MINISTER BLAIR SAYS THE AIR ATTACK ON THE IRAQIS WAS
TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE MIDDAY SATURDAY, LONDON TIME, BUT WAS
CANCELLED ONLY HOURS BEFOREHAND, WHEN IRAQ BACKED DOWN IN THE
FACE OF MILITARY CONFRONTATION. THE BRITISH LEADER SAYS THAT
THERE WAS NO CREDIBLE ALTERNATIVE THAN THE THREATENED USE OF
FORCE, ADDING THAT THE THREAT STILL HOLDS.
/// BLAIR ACT ///
AS EVER, WE DO NOT RELY ON THE GOOD FAITH OF SADDAM
HUSSEIN. HE HAS NONE. BUT WE DO NOTE THAT UNDER THREAT
OF FORCE, WE CAN MAKE HIM MOVE. WE WILL BE WATCHING
WITH EXTREME CARE AND A HIGH DEGREE OF SKEPTICISM.
/// OPT /// OUR FORCES REMAIN IN PLACE AND ON HIGH
ALERT. WE AND THE AMERICANS REMAIN READY, WILLING AND
ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE USE OF FORCE AT ANY TIME. ///
END OPT ///
/// END ACT ///
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR TOLD THE BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS HIS
GOVERNMENT IS WATCHING THE ACTIONS OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S
GOVERNMENT, AND GAVE A BLUNT WARNING TO THE IRAQI LEADER.
/// SECOND BLAIR ACT ///
IF HE AGAIN OBSTRUCTS THE WORK OF THE INSPECTORS, THEN
WE STRIKE. NO WARNINGS, NO WRANGLING, NO
NEGOTIATIONS, NO LAST MINUTE LETTERS. THE NEXT
WITHDRAWAL OF COOPERATION AND HE WILL BE HIT.
/// END ACT ///
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS ARE EXPECTED TO RESUME WORKING IN IRAQ ON
TUESDAY. IRAQ STOPPED COOPERATING WITH THE INSPECTORS OCTOBER
31ST, DEMANDING AN END TO THE U-N SANCTIONS IN PLACE SINCE IRAQ'S
INVASION OF KUWAIT IN 1990. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/JWH
16-Nov-98 12:06 PM EST (1706 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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