DATE=12/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243301
TITLE=IRAQ STRIKES / ARAB REACT (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=AMMAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S AND BRITISH LEADERS SATURDAY TRIED TO ASSURE THE ARAB
WORLD THAT THE AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ ARE AIMED AT CONTAINING
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT AND PRESERVING SECURITY IN THE REGION. BUT
THEIR WORDS FAILED TO CALM RISING ANGER OVER THE ATTACKS, IN
WHICH AT LEAST 68 PEOPLE HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN KILLED. V-O-A
MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM AMMAN.
TEXT: PROTESTS ERUPTED SATURDAY IN SEVERAL ARAB NATIONS OVER THE
CONTINUING U-S AND BRITISH ATTACKS ON IRAQ.
IN SYRIA, THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS STORMED THE U-S EMBASSY IN
DAMASCUS AND, DESPITE THE USE OF TEAR GAS BY EMBASSY GUARDS,
MANAGED TO TEAR DOWN AND BURN THE AMERICAN FLAG. THE PROTESTERS
ALSO SACKED THE AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER AND THE U-S AMBASSADOR'S
RESIDENCE. THE AMBASSADOR'S WIFE, WHO WAS AT THE RESIDENCE, WAS
EVACUATED UNHARMED.
THE GROUP ALSO THREW STONES AT THE BRITISH COUNCIL. THE CROWDS
WERE DISPERSED BY SYRIAN POLICE TOWARD THE END OF THE DAY.
ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION WAS REPORTEDLY HELD IN THE PROVINCIAL CITY
OF ALEPPO.
THESE WERE THE FIRST PRO-IRAQI DEMONSTRATIONS IN DECADES IN SYRIA
AND WERE CONSIDERED UNUSUAL. SYRIA BROKE RELATIONS WITH IRAQ
DURING THE THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR, BUT SYRIA WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ARAB
GOVERNMENTS THIS WEEK TO CONDEMN THE ATTACKS.
IN EGYPT, SEVERAL THOUSAND PROTESTERS GATHERED AT A MAJOR
UNIVERSITY AND BURNED U-S FLAGS. THEY CHANTED SLOGANS AGAINST
PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE U-S GOVERNMENT, BEFORE DISPERSING
PEACEFULLY. EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK ISSUED A STATEMENT
CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO THE AIR STRIKES.
IN JORDAN, ABOUT ONE THOUSAND STUDENTS DEMONSTRATED AT THE MAIN
UNIVERSITY BUT WERE KEPT ON THE CAMPUS BY RIOT POLICE. STUDENT
AND POLITICAL OPPOSITION LEADERS SAID THEY ARE PLANNING A MAJOR
DEMONSTRATION SUNDAY, IN DEFIANCE OF GOVERNMENT ORDERS IN PLACE
SINCE CLASHES LAST FEBRUARY OVER THE THREAT OF AIR STRIKES
AGAINST IRAQ.
///REST OPT./// THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK DEFIED
THEIR LEADERSHIP AND DEMONSTRATED SATURDAY. SCORES WERE INJURED
IN CLASHES WITH POLICE. OTHER DEMONSTRATIONS WERE HELD IN ASIA,
EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES.
A POLITICAL ANALYST IN JORDAN, RADWAN ABDULLAH, SAID THE FEELING
OF ANGER AND DESPAIR IN THE REGION IS STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE,
BECAUSE THERE IS A FEELING THAT THE IRAQI PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
SUFFERING FOR TOO LONG A TIME AND THAT THEY ARE THE VICTIMS OF
BOTH THE IRAQI REGIME AND THE WEST.
///ABDULLAH ACT.///
PEOPLE ARE EXTREMELY SYMPATHETIC TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE AND
UPSET THAT ONCE AGAIN THEY ARE REALLY BEING VICTIMIZED.
I THINK THAT PEOPLE THIS TIME DON'T THINK THAT THERE WAS
REALLY A VALID PRETEXT OR REASON FOR THE MILITARY
ACTION.
///END ACT.///
PROFESSOR ABDULLAH SAID PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE IRAQ STILL POSES A
THREAT TO ANYONE AND ITS MILITARY STRENGTH HAS BEEN EXAGGERATED.
HE UNDERSCORES THAT HE BELIEVES POPULAR SYMPATHY IS WITH THE
IRAQI PEOPLE AND NOT THE IRAQI REGIME. BUT HE CONCLUDES THAT THE
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AND AIR STRIKES HAVE HAD THE OPPOSITE OF THEIR
INTENDED EFFECT, FOR HE SAYS THEY HAVE WEAKENED THE IRAQI PEOPLE,
WHILE STRENGTHENING THE IRAQI REGIME. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/DW/GE
19-Dec-98 2:33 PM EST (1933 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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