DATE=2/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245766
TITLE=IRAQ STRIKE (S ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT SAYS ITS AIR DEFENSES HAVE
CONFRONTED WESTERN WARPLANES OVER SOUTHERN IRAQ AND ONE OF THE
PLANES MAY HAVE BEEN SHOT DOWN. BUT U-S AND BRITISH FORCES THAT
PATROL THE NO-FLY ZONES OVER IRAQ DENY THE REPORTS, AS WE HEAR
FROM CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB IN OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO.
TEXT: THE IRAQI NEWS AGENCY QUOTES A MILITARY COMMUNIQUE AS
SAYING IRAQI DEFENSES (SUNDAY) INTERCEPTED WHAT IT CALLS HOSTILE
FORMATIONS. IT SAYS ONE OF THE PLANES IN THE FORMATION MAY HAVE
BEEN HIT BY AN IRAQI MISSILE.
BRITISH OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR AIRCRAFT WERE PATROLLING THE
SKIES OVER SOUTHERN IRAQ, BUT SAY THEY RETURNED SAFELY TO BASE.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE IRAQI REPORT IS FALSE AND ALL MORNING
FLIGHTS OVER THE SOUTHERN NO-FLY ZONE WERE UNEVENTFUL.
THERE HAVE BEEN CLASHES ON VIRTUALLY A DAILY BASIS BETWEEN
WESTERN AIR PATROLS AND IRAQI AIR DEFENSES OVER THE NO-FLY ZONES
SINCE THE U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES LAST DECEMBER. IRAQ
CONSIDERS THE NO-FLY ZONES ILLEGAL AND IS PRESSING FOR AN END TO
THE PATROLS. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/DW/RAE
21-Feb-99 9:31 AM EST (1431 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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