DATE=12/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243522
TITLE=IRAQ SATURDAY UPDATE (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
(EDS: WATCH CN WIRE FOR UPDATES)
INTRO: IRAQ SAYS ITS AIR DEFENSE FORCES HAVE REPELLED AN
INCURSION BY WESTERN WAR PLANES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE U-S AND
BRITISH AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ ONE WEEK AGO. CORRESPONDENT
SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO THAT
ALLIED FORCES, WHICH ROUTINELY PATROL PARTS OF NORTHERN AND
SOUTHERN IRAQ, SAY THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY SUCH INCIDENT.
TEXT: THE IRAQI NEWS AGENCY QUOTES A DEFENSE OFFICIAL AS SAYING
THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE AROUND MID-DAY SATURDAY. IT SAYS THE
PLANES WERE "CONFRONTED" BY IRAQI AIR DEFENSE FORCES, A TERM
USUALLY MEANING THAT THEY WERE FIRED UPON.
THE IRAQI OFFICIAL DID NOT SAY WHERE THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE,
ONLY THAT THE PLANES CAME FROM KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA. U-S AND
BRITISH FORCES PATROL A NO-FLY ZONE IN SOUTHERN IRAQ FROM BASES
IN THESE TWO COUNTRIES.
THE REPORTED INCIDENT CAME ONE WEEK AFTER U-S AND BRITISH FORCES
HALTED AIR RAIDS THAT STRUCK NEARLY 100 TARGETS IN IRAQ.
THE ATTACKS WERE CRITICIZED BY MANY GOVERNMENTS AND BROUGHT ANGRY
DEMONSTRATIONS IN MANY ARAB COUNTRIES. IRAQIS HAVE EXPRESSED
RELIEF THE ATTACKS ARE OVER, BUT REMAIN DEFIANT OVER EFFORTS TO
MONITOR AND DISMANTLE IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
BAGHDAD'S INFLUENTIAL BABEL NEWSPAPER SATURDAY REITERATED THE
IRAQI POSITION THAT U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO
RETURN TO IRAQ. AND IT PREDICTED THAT CHIEF U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER, WHOSE REPORT LED TO THE AIR STRIKES,
WILL BE REPLACED.
IRAQI NEWSPAPERS SAID FRIDAY THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT ALLOW
ELECTRONIC MONITORING OF SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES, IF ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS ARE LIFTED. BUT THEY DISMISSED CALLS FROM WASHINGTON
AND LONDON THAT ECONOMIC SANCTIONS WILL BE LIFTED ONLY AFTER FULL
INSPECTIONS HAVE RESUMED.
/// REST OPT /// POLITICAL OBSERVERS IN THE REGION NOTE THAT ONE
WEEK AFTER THE END OF THE AIR STRIKES, ARAB POSITIONS HAVE
HARDENED OVER POLICY TOWARD IRAQ.
VIRTUALLY ALL ARAB GOVERNMENTS ARE NOW CALLING FOR AN END TO THE
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS, SAYING THEY HAVE ONLY SERVED TO WEAKEN THE
IRAQI PEOPLE, WHILE STRENGTHENING THE IRAQI REGIME.
MANY GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION BELIEVE IRAQ NO LONGER REPRESENTS
A MILITARY THREAT TO THE REGION. THEY SAY NEW DIPLOMATIC
OVERTURES SHOULD BE LAUNCHED TO RESTORE IRAQ'S POSITION IN THE
ARAB COMMUNITY, PROVIDED IT ABANDONS ITS AGGRESSIVE POLICIES.
MANY ARAB LEADERS PRIVATELY ARE EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT A
MILITARY OPERATION WAS LAUNCHED BY TWO WORLD POWERS WITHOUT THE
CONSENT OF THEIR PARTNERS IN THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL AND DESPITE
OPPOSITION FROM A LARGE NUMBER OF NATIONS OF THE WORLD.
THEY SEE THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL AS DIVIDED OVER POLICY TOWARD
IRAQ FOR WEEKS TO COME. AS A RESULT, THEY FORESEE LITTLE ACTION
BY U-N MEDIATORS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE VIOLENCE IF A RETURN
TO DIPLOMACY IS DELAYED. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/DW/GE
26-Dec-98 11:17 AM EST (1617 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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