DATE=1/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244291
TITLE=IRAQ/WAR ANNIVERSARY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN BAGHDAD, THOUSANDS OF IRAQIS HAVE BEEN DEMONSTRATING
IN THE STREETS TO MARK THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE
GULF WAR. RICHARD ENGEL REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU,
IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN IS CALLING FOR THE CREATION OF A
MIDDLE EAST BLOC TO OPPOSE WHAT HE CALLS A WESTERN ALLIANCE LED
BY THE UNITED STATES.
TEXT: ABOUT TWO-THOUSAND IRAQIS SHOUTED ANTI-AMERICAN SLOGANS
AND DESTROYED A U-S FLAG TO MARK THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF WHAT
SADDAM HUSSEIN ONCE CALLED "THE MOTHER OF ALL BATTLES" -- WHEN
IRAQ WAS CONFRONTED BY A U-S LED COALITION TO LIBERATE KUWAIT
FROM IRAQI OCCUPATION. THE DEMONSTRATORS ALSO DENOUNCED U-N -
IMPOSED SANCTIONS, WHICH HAVE BEEN IN PLACE SINCE GULF WAR ENDED
IN DEFEAT FOR IRAQ.
PRESIDENT HUSSEIN TOLD THE IRAQI PEOPLE IN A NATIONAL RADIO AND
TELEVISION ADDRESS HE IS CALLING FOR THE FORMATION OF A REGIONAL
ORGANIZATION TO WORK FOR PEACE AND SECURITY. HE SAYS ALL MIDDLE
EASTERN STATES CAN APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP. THE IRAQI PRESIDENT
SAYS THE GROUP WOULD COUNTER AN ANTI-IRAQI WESTERN ALLIANCE THAT
INCLUDES THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN, ISRAEL AND THEIR ALLIES.
BUT THE CALL FOR A UNIFIED ARAB STAND BEHIND IRAQ MAY GO
UNHEEDED. IT COMES AS A WAR OF WORDS CONTINUES BETWEEN IRAQ AND
MUCH OF THE ARAB WORLD. THE EGYPTIAN STATE-OWNED AL AKHBAR
NEWSPAPER CALLS [SUNDAY] THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP A PACK OF LIARS.
THE OFFICIAL EGYPTIAN MAGAZINE ROSE AL YOUSIF COMPARES SADDAM
HUSSEIN TO A MAFIA BOSS.
ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE EXPECTED TO MEET IN CAIRO NEXT WEEK TO
COME UP WITH A UNIFIED ARAB POSITION ON THE IRAQI CRISIS.
THE MEMBER STATES OF THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL SUNDAY HINTED
THEY WOULD BOYCOTT AN ARAB SUMMIT IF IRAQ ATTENDED. (SIGNED)
NEB/RHE/DW/WTW
17-Jan-99 11:14 AM EST (1614 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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