DATE=2/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245882
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS BLAMED THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT FOR THE
KILLING OF A PROMINENT IRAQI SHIITE CLERIC SAYING IT APPEARS TO
BE ANOTHER ACT OF REPRESSION. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S
KYLE KING REPORTS.
TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT REACTION TO THE ASSASSINATION OF THE
SHIITE CLERIC CAME IN A SHARPLY WORDED RESPONSE TO IRAQI
ALLEGATIONS OF U-S INVOLVEMENT.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY STRONGLY DENIED THE
ALLEGATIONS, WHICH WERE MADE TUESDAY BY THE IRAQI FOREIGN
MINISTER.
/// FOLEY ACT ///
THAT IS A BASELESS AND SHOCKING AND COMPLETELY ERRONEOUS
ACCUSATION. IT IS CLEAR THIS IS THE FOURTH RELIGIOUS
CLERIC THAT HAS BEEN ASSASSINATED IN IRAQ IN THE LAST
YEAR, THIS IS AN ESTEEMED RELIGIOUS FIGURE WHO HAS BEEN
VISITED BY AND THREATENED BY SADDAM'S SECURITY FORCES.
/// END ACT ///
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NO WAY TO CONFIRM REPORTS OF
GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE ASSASSINATION. BUT THE STATE
DEPARTMENT SAYS THE KILLING FITS A PATTERN OR IRAQI REPRESSION.
SINCE THE DEATH OF THE SHIITE CLERIC LAST FRIDAY, THERE HAVE BEEN
UNCONFIRMED REPORTS OF VIOLENT ANTI-GOVERNMENT UNREST IN BAGHDAD
AND SOUTHERN IRAQ.
IRAQI OFFICIALS BROUGHT REPORTERS TO SOME AREAS TO REFUTE
ALLEGATIONS THAT A GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN WAS UNDERWAY, BUT
OPPOSITION SOURCES SAY AS MANY AS 300 PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED
IN THE DISTURBANCES.
U-S OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE NO WAY OF CONFIRMING THE
FIGURES. BUT THEY SAY INFORMATION FROM NORMALLY RELIABLE
OPPOSITION SOURCES INDICATES AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN
BAGHDAD AND HUNDREDS ARRESTED, INCLUDING SEVERAL RELIGIOUS
SCHOLARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/WDC/PT
23-Feb-99 7:29 PM EST (0029 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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