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DATE=2/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-25919
TITLE=IRAQ ATTACK (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  U-S WARPLANES HAVE STRUCK IRAQI AIR DEFENSE INSTALLATIONS
ON THE OUSKIRTS OF BAGHDAD.  IRAQI AUTHORITIES SAY A NUMBER OF 
CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED OR WOUNDED IN THE ATTACK, AS WE HEAR 
FROM CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB, IN OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN 
CAIRO.
TEXT:  U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEIR PLANES ATTACKED TWO IRAQI MISSILE 
SITES WEDNESDAY NEAR THE TOWN OF AL-ISKANDARIA, 50 KILOMETERS 
SOUTH OF BAGHDAD.  THEY SAY THE STRIKES WERE IN RESPONSE TO 
ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE IN THE "NO-FLY" ZONE OVER SOUTHERN IRAQ.
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT SAYS THE ATTACK OCCURRED IN THE SUBURBS OF 
THE CAPITAL, AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CIVILIAN CASUALTIES.
REPORTS SAY IT WAS THE FIRST TIME AIR-RAID SIRENS WERE HEARD IN 
BAGHDAD SINCE LAST DECEMBER, WHEN U-S AND BRITISH PLANES BOMBED 
SCORES OF IRAQI TARGETS DURING A FOUR-NIGHT PERIOD.
FOLLOWING THE AIR STRIKES, THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT BEGAN TO 
CHALLENGE MORE AGGRESSIVELY WESTERN PATROLS IN THE "NO-FLY" ZONES
OVER NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ.  SINCE THEN, CLASHES HAVE 
OCCURRED ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASIS BETWEEN WESTERN PLANES AND 
IRAQI DEFENSES.
IRAQ SAYS THE "NO-FLY" ZONES ARE ILLEGAL, AND VIOLATE ITS 
TERRITORIAL SOVEREIGNTY.  WESTERN FORCES ESTABLISHED THE ZONES 
FOLLOWING THE GULF WAR EIGHT YEARS AGO, TO PROTECT DISSIDENT 
POPULATIONS FROM AIR ATTACKS BY THE BAGHDAD GOVERNMENT.
AFTER IRAQ'S DEFEAT IN THE GULF WAR, THERE WERE UPRISINGS AGAINST
THE GOVERNMENT BY ETHNIC KURDISH GROUPS IN NORTHERN IRAQ AND BY 
SHIITE MUSLIM GROUPS IN THE SOUTH.  THESE WERE HARSHLY PUT DOWN.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, DEMONSTRATIONS WERE REPORTED IN SEVERAL CITIES
IN SOUTHERN IRAQ, FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF THE COUNTRY'S LEADING 
SHIITE MUSLIM CLERIC AND HIS TWO SONS, IN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF 
NAJAF.  IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS AND SHIITE LEADERS IN NEIGHBORING
COUNTRIES SAY THE KILLINGS ARE PART OF A GOVERNMENT PERSECUTION 
CAMPAIGN AGAINST SHIITE LEADERS.
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT DENIES RESPONSIBILITY, SAYING FOREIGN FORCES
ARE MASTERMINDING THE MURDERS IN ORDER TO UNDERMINE IRAQI UNITY. 
AUTHORITIES IN BAGHDAD SAY THERE HAVE BEEN  NO  ANTI-GOVERNMENT 
DEMONSTRATIONS; ON TUESDAY, THEY TOOK FOREIGN REPORTERS TO VISIT 
A CITY IN THE SOUTH TO SHOW THAT THE REGION IS QUIET.   (SIGNED)
NEB/FSB/WTW
24-Feb-99 3:45 PM EST (2045 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.