DATE=2/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245855
TITLE=IRAQ CLASHES (L ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S WARPLANES HAVE TWICE CLASHED WITH IRAQI AIR DEFENSES
IN NORTHERN IRAQ. MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS
THE INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE AS IRAQI OFFICIALS SOUGHT TO DISCOUNT
CLAIMS OF WIDESPREAD DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE COUNTRY FOLLOWING THE
MURDER OF THE COUNTRY'S LEADING SHI'ITE MUSLIM CLERIC.
TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEIR WARPLANES BOMBED AN IRAQI
ARTILLERY UNIT AND A RADAR INSTALLATION (TUESDAY) AFTER COMING
UNDER FIRE NEAR THE NORTHERN IRAQI CITY OF MOSUL. A SPOKESMAN
SAID THE PLANES RETURNED UNHARMED TO THEIR BASE IN SOUTHERN
TURKEY.
WESTERN PATROLS HAVE CLASHED ALMOST DAILY IN RECENT MONTHS IN THE
NO-FLY ZONES OVER NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ. IRAQ OPPOSES THE
NO-FLY ZONES, WHICH WERE SET UP TO PROTECT DISSIDENT POPULATIONS
FROM AIR ATTACKS BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT.
MEANWHILE, THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING TO DISPROVE REPORTS OF
DEMONSTRATIONS IN SEVERAL IRAQI CITIES, FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF
THE COUNTRY'S LEADING SHI'ITE MUSLIM LEADER. MOHAMMED SADEQ
AL-SADR AND HIS TWO SONS WERE SHOT TO DEATH FRIDAY IN THE
SOUTHERN CITY OF NAJAF.
JOURNALISTS TUESDAY VISITED THE SOUTHERN CITY OF NASSIRIYA UNDER
GOVERNMENT ESCORT AND REPORTED IT WAS CALM. THEY ALSO QUOTED
VISITORS TO THE CITIES OF NAJAF, KARBALLA, AND THE BAGHDAD SUBURB
OF SADDAM CITY AS SAYING THESE AREAS WERE ALSO QUIET.
EXILED OPPOSITION LEADERS SAY POPULAR DEMONSTRATIONS ERUPTED IN
THESE PREDOMINANTLY SHI'ITE AREAS AFTER THE MURDER OF THE
AYATOLLAH WAS ANNOUNCED LAST SATURDAY. THEY SAY SECURITY FORCES
HAVE ARRESTED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN A MAJOR CRACKDOWN.
IN IRAN, HUNDREDS OF SHI'ITE SYMPATHIZERS DEMONSTRATED (TUESDAY)
AT THE IRAQI EMBASSY IN TEHRAN. RIOT POLICE FIRED SHOTS INTO THE
AIR TO DISPERSE THE DEMONSTRATIONS AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WERE
ARRESTED.
THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS CONDEMNED THE MURDER OF THE AYATOLLAH,
THE THIRD IN IRAQ IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. IT SAYS THE KILLINGS
ARE PART OF AN IRAQI GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN OF PERSECUTION OF
SHI'ITE LEADERS IN IRAQ.
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT DENIES THE CHARGES. IT BLAMES THE MURDERS
ON FOREIGN FORCES, WHICH IT ACCUSES OF SEEKING TO DIVIDE THE
IRAQI PEOPLE. THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT SAID THE REPORTED
ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS, WHICH WERE WIDELY COVERED IN THE
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, WERE BASELESS AND FALSE. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH/RAE
23-Feb-99 11:32 AM EST (1632 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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