DATE=1/31/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244905
TITLE=IRAQ / U-N (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S WARPLANES HAVE AGAIN FIRED AT AIR DEFENSE
INSTALLATIONS IN IRAQ. THE INCIDENTS IN THE NO-FLY ZONES FOLLOW
AT LEAST SIX MISSILE ATTACKS SATURDAY BY WESTERN PLANES ENFORCING
THE EXCLUSION ZONES. THEY COME AS THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT REJECTS A
U-N SECURITY COUNCIL DECISION TO REVIEW INTERNATIONAL POLICY
TOWARD IRAQ, AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB IN OUR
MIDDLE EAST BUREAU.
TEXT: THE IRAQI NEWS AGENCY QUOTES A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN AS
SAYING IRAQ WAS NOT CONSULTED ON THE REVIEW AND THEREFORE THE
REVIEW MEANS NOTHING.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE REVIEW WILL TAKE MONTHS AND, AS A RESULT,
IT SERVES ONLY TO EXTEND WHAT HE CALLED THE UNJUST EMBARGO
AGAINST IRAQ.
THE RESPONSE CAME DURING A MEETING OF SENIOR IRAQI OFFICIALS
CHAIRED BY PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.
THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL SATURDAY VOTED TO SET UP THREE PANELS TO
REVIEW ITS POLICY TOWARD IRAQ, EIGHT YEARS AFTER THE GULF WAR.
THE FIRST PANEL IS TO REVIEW IRAQ'S DISARMAMENT PROGRAM, WHICH
HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF CONFRONTATION BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED
NATIONS AND LED TO THE U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES IN DECEMBER.
A SECOND PANEL IS TO EXAMINE THE CONDITION OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE
AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED BECAUSE OF IRAQ'S
OCCUPATION OF KUWAIT. A THIRD PANEL IS TO EXAMINE THE ISSUE OF
HUNDREDS OF KUWAITI CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN MISSING SINCE THE GULF
WAR.
IRAQ HAS SUSPENDED VIRTUALLY ALL CONTACT WITH THE UNITED NATIONS
SINCE THE U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES LAST DECEMBER. THE STRIKES
WERE LAUNCHED AFTER THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS REPORTED IRAQI
OFFICIALS WERE HINDERING EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION.
FOLLOWING THE AIR STRIKES, IRAQI DEFENSE FORCES BEGAN CHALLENGING
MORE AGGRESSIVELY U-S AND BRITISH AIR PATROLS IN NO-FLY ZONES
OVER NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ. U-S OFFICIALS SAY IRAQI RADAR
SYSTEMS HAVE TARGETED WESTERN PLANES AT LEAST 70 TIMES IN THE
PAST MONTH AND THEIR PLANES HAVE FIRED MISSILES AT IRAQI GROUND
DEFENSES ON AT LEAST 20 OCCASIONS.
U-S WARPLANES AGAIN FIRED MISSILES AGAINST IRAQI DEFENSE
INSTALLATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
///REST OPT///
A CLASH LAST WEEK NEAR BASRA, IN SOUTHERN IRAQ, CAUSED AT LEAST
ONE U-S MISSILE TO MISTAKENLY HIT A RESIDENTIAL AREA. IRAQ SAYS
18 CIVILIANS WERE KILLED AND SCORES WOUNDED IN THE INCIDENT.
IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMED SAEED AL-SAHAF SUNDAY COMPLAINED
ABOUT THE ATTACKS IN A LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS. HE REJECTED
THE PATROLS OVER THE NO-FLY ZONES AS A VIOLATION OF IRAQ'S
SOVEREIGNTY AND DEMANDED COMPENSATION FOR THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY
THE AIR STRIKES. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/DW/JO
31-Jan-99 11:03 AM EST (1603 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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