DATE=2/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245554
TITLE=IRAQ / U-S RAIDS (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S WARPLANES HAVE AGAIN ATTACKED IRAQI DEFENSES IN
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ. V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT
SCOTT BOBB REPORTS THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT SAYS FIVE CIVILIANS WERE
KILLED AND 22 WERE WOUNDED IN AN ATTACK IN SOUTHERN IRAQ.
TEXT: THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT SAYS THE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES WERE
CAUSED BY U-S JETS BASED IN KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA. U-S
OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THE PLANES ATTACKED IRAQI GROUND DEFENSES IN
THE SOUTH AFTER BEING TARGETED, BUT SAID THEY HAD NO DETAILS OF
ANY CASUALTIES.
THE U-S MILITARY ANNOUNCED TWO CLASHES ALSO OCCURRED IN NORTHERN
IRAQ (MONDAY) BETWEEN IRAQI DEFENSES AND U-S PLANES BASED IN
TURKEY. THEY SAID A U-S PLANE DROPPED A BOMB ON AN IRAQI
ARTILLERY INSTALLATION NEAR THE NORTHERN CITY OF MOSUL. AND THEY
SAID A U-S PLANE FIRED A GUIDED MISSILE AT AN IRAQI RADAR UNIT
AFTER BEING TARGETED. THERE WAS NO WORD ON CASUALTIES.
CLASHES HAVE BEEN OCCURRING ALMOST DAILY BETWEEN IRAQI FORCES AND
WESTERN PLANES PATROLLING THE NO-FLY ZONES OVER NORTHERN AND
SOUTHERN IRAQ. THE NO-FLY ZONES WERE ESTABLISHED AFTER THE GULF
WAR TO PROTECT DISSIDENT POPULATIONS FROM AIR ATTACKS BY IRAQI
FORCES. IRAQ CALLS THE NO-FLY ZONES ILLEGAL AND HAS MOUNTED A
CAMPAIGN TO ELIMINATE THEM.
IRAQ HAS ISSUED A VEILED THREAT AGAINST KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA,
SAYING ITS FORCES COULD STRIKE BASES IN THEIR TERRITORIES IF THEY
CONTINUE TO ALLOW THEM TO BE USED BY WESTERN AIR PATROLS OVER
SOUTHERN IRAQ.
IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ MET WITH SENIOR TURKISH
OFFICIALS MONDAY, URGING THEM TO WITHDRAW PERMISSION FOR U-S AND
BRITISH WAR PLANES TO USE A TURKISH AIR BASE FOR PATROLS OVER
NORTHERN IRAQ. THE TURKISH NEWS AGENCY QUOTED TURKEY'S FOREIGN
MINISTER AS SAYING TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY DOES NOT CHANGE
BECAUSE OF A VISIT.
A SENIOR U-S AIR FORCE GENERAL ALSO MET TURKISH OFFICIALS IN
ANKARA MONDAY. THE U-S AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY SAID THE GENERAL'S
PRESENCE REFLECTED THE IMPORTANCE THE U-S GOVERNMENT ATTACHES TO
ITS RELATIONS WITH TURKEY.
/// REST OPT ///
CLASHES OVER THE NO-FLY ZONES HAVE INTENSIFIED SINCE THE U-S AND
BRITISH AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ TWO MONTHS AGO. MANY
GOVERNMENTS CRITICIZED THE AIR STRIKES BECAUSE THEY HURT
CIVILIANS. BUT MANY ALSO CRITICIZED THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT FOR
FAILING TO COOPERATE WITH THE U-N DISARMAMENT PROGRAM.
IRAQ ADOPTED A POLICY OF DEFIANCE FOLLOWING THE AIR STRIKES.
SINCE THEN IT HAS REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH MOST U-N PROGRAMS AND
HAS CRITICIZED ARAB NATIONS FOR FAILING TO BACK ITS CALL FOR AN
UNCONDITIONAL END TO ECONOMIC SANCTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH
15-Feb-99 11:42 AM EST (1642 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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