DATE=3/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246152
TITLE=IRAQ CLASHES (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY VITAL OIL EXPORTS MAY BE DISRUPTED
FOR WEEKS AFTER U-S PLANES DESTROYED TWO IMPORTANT STATIONS ON
ITS ONLY FUNCTIONING PIPELINE. THEY SAY THE ATTACK KILLED ONE
WORKER AND WOUNDED A HALF-DOZEN OTHERS. V-O-A MIDDLE EAST
CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS IRAQI OFFICIALS ALSO INDICATE
CLASHES WITH THE U-S AND BRITISH FORCES WILL CONTINUE.
TEXT: IRAQI OFFICIALS (TUESDAY) SHOWED REPORTERS A
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER IN NORTHERN IRAQ, WHICH THEY SAID WAS
DESTROYED BY AN AIR ATTACK THE DAY BEFORE. NEWS REPORTS SAY THE
INSTALLATION AT AIN ZALA WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED.
IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY THE FACILITY PROVIDED COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN
OIL FIELDS IN SOUTHERN IRAQ AND THE TURKISH PORT OF CEYLAN ON THE
MEDITERRANEAN SEA. THEY SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL
RESUME OPERATIONS. A PUMPING STATION ON THE SAME PIPELINE WAS
DAMAGED IN A SEPARATE ATTACK SUNDAY.
THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER WAS HIT (MONDAY) DURING THE HEAVIEST
DAY OF WESTERN AIR ATTACKS SINCE FOUR NIGHTS OF AIR STRIKES
AGAINST IRAQ IN DECEMBER.
U-S OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR FORCES ATTACKED THE FACILITY, BUT
SAY IT ALSO SERVED MILITARY PURPOSES. THEY SAY THE AIR STRIKES
ARE IN RETALIATION FOR IRAQI ATTACKS AGAINST AIR PATROLS IN
NO-FLY ZONES OVER NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ. IRAQ REJECTS THE
NO-FLY ZONES AS ILLEGAL AND A VIOLATION OF ITS TERRITORIAL
SOVEREIGNTY.
IRAQ'S VICE PRESIDENT, TAHA YASSIN RAMADAN, IN REMARKS PUBLISHED
TUESDAY, SAID THE AGGRESSION IS A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.
HE SAID IRAQ WILL CONTINUE TO DEFEND ITS SOVEREIGNTY AND CONFRONT
THE U-S AND BRITISH PLANES. HE WARNED THAT A CONTINUATION OF THE
AGGRESSION WILL HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES IN THE REGION.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE INSTRUCTED THEIR FORCES TO RESPOND
MORE AGGRESSIVELY TO IRAQI ATTACKS ON THEIR PLANES. THERE HAVE
BEEN MORE THAN 100 CLASHES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
/// REST OPT ///
THE IRAQI PIPELINE CARRIED ONE-MILLION BARRELS OF OIL PER DAY,
MORE THAN ONE-HALF OF IRAQ'S OIL EXPORTS. IRAQ IS ALLOWED BY THE
UNITED NATIONS TO EXPORT TWO-MILLION BARRELS A DAY TO PURCHASE
FOOD AND MEDICINE FOR IRAQIS WHO HAVE BEEN HARD HIT BY EIGHT
YEARS OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.
THE ARAB LEAGUE HAS CRITICIZED THE ATTACKS AND URGED THE U-S AND
BRITISH GOVERNMENTS TO SEEK A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE
CONFRONTATION. LEAGUE OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED (TUESDAY) THAT
FOREIGN MINISTERS OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE LEAGUE WILL MEET
SUNDAY IN SYRIA TO DRAW UP A PLAN AIMED AT ENDING THE ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS.
SECRETARY-GENERAL ESMAT ABDEL-MEGUID SAID THE ARAB LEAGUE IS ALSO
CONSIDERING AN INVITATION TO JOIN ONE OF THREE SPECIAL U-N
COMMITTEES TO REVIEW U-N POLICIES TOWARD IRAQ. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH
02-Mar-99 10:57 AM EST (1557 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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