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DATE=1/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244626
TITLE=IRAQ / MONDAY MISSLE / S&L / UPDATE
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IRAQ'S NEWS AGENCY SAYS A U-S OR BRITISH MISSILE STRUCK A
CROWED MARKET IN THE SOUTHERN CITY, BASRA, KILLING AND INJURING 
CIVILIANS.  A U-S MILITARY OFFICIAL SAYS COALITION PLANES FIRED 
AT A SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE SITE NORTH OF THE CITY.   BRITISH 
OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY DENY THEIR PLANES WERE INVOLVED IN ANY 
ATTACK. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON.
TEXT:  LIEUTENANT COLONEL JODY SPENCER OF THE U-S CENTRAL COMMAND
SAYS COALITION PLANES PATROLLING THE SOUTHERN NO-FLY ZONE 
ATTACKED A S-A-3 SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE SITE NORTH OF BASRA.  SHE
SAYS EXPERTS ARE STILL ASSESSING THE DAMAGE, BUT SHE SAYS  U-S 
PLANES NEVER DELIBERATELY TARGET CIVILIANS. 
A REPORT FROM IRAQ'S OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCY SAYS A MISSILE LAUNCHED
BY BRITISH OR AMERICAN FORCES STUCK ABOUT 9:30 MONDAY MORNING 
(0630 GMT), AND THAT CHILDREN AND WOMEN WERE AMONG THE 
CASUALTIES.
THE AGENCY SAYS CIVIL DEFENSE VEHICLES RUSHED TO THE AREA TO AID 
THE INJURED.  
IT IS THE THIRD SUCCESSIVE DAY OF CONFRONTATIONS OVER IRAQ.  
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, IRAQI AIR DEFENSES AND ALLIED PLANES FOUGHT 
EACH OTHER FOR CONTROL OF IRAQI AIR SPACE.  IRAQI GUNS AND RADAR 
TARGETED U-S WARPLANES, WHICH RESPONDED WITH BOMBS AND MISSILES.
            /// REST OPTIONAL  ///
BASRA IS PART OF THE SOUTHERN NO-FLY ZONE SET UP TO PROTECT 
SHIITE MUSLIMS WHO ROSE UP AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQI 
PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN AFTER THE 1991 GULF WAR.   A SIMILAR 
ZONE WAS CREATED BY WESTERN ALLIES IN IRAQ'S NORTH, TO PROTECT 
REBELLIOUS KURDS.  
U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS ORDERED BAGHDAD TO STOP 
ATTACKING THE KURDS AND SHI'ITES OR THREATENING IRAQ'S NEIGHBORS.
WASHINGTON AND LONDON SAY THIS GIVES THEM THE LEGAL BASIS TO BAN 
IRAQI PLANES FROM ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF IRAQI AIR SPACE. BAGHDAD 
CALLS THE NO-FLY ZONES OUTRAGEOUS AND ILLEGAL AND HAS BEEN 
CHALLENGING COALITION PLANES PATROLLING THEM MORE AND MORE OFTEN.
(SIGNED). 
NEB / WD / WD
25-Jan-99 6:57 AM EST (1157 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.