DATE=3/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246644
TITLE=IRAQ STRIKES (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S FIGHTER PLANES HAVE STRUCK AIR DEFENSES IN NORTHERN
IRAQ IN WHAT MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY WAS IN SELF-DEFENSE. V-O-A
MIDEAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS THAT THE ATTACKS COME AS
ARAB LEADERS INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO
RISING MILITARY TENSIONS IN THE REGION.
TEXT: U-S MILITARY SPOKESMEN SAY U-S PLANES DROPPED LASER-GUIDED
BOMBS ON IRAQI AIR DEFENSES MIDDAY MONDAY NEAR THE NORTHERN CITY
OF MOSUL, AFTER BEING TARGETED BY IRAQI ARTILLERY. THEY SAY ALL
PLANES RETURNED SAFELY TO THEIR BASES IN SOUTHERN TURKEY.
THE ATTACKS FOLLOW A SIMILAR CLASH SUNDAY IN SOUTHERN IRAQ BY U-S
PLANES BASED IN KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA. THE CLASHES HAVE
OCCURRED ON VIRTUALLY A DAILY BASIS SINCE LATE DECEMBER, WHEN
IRAQ BEGAN CHALLENGING U-S AND BRITISH AIR PATROLS IN NO-FLY
ZONES OVER NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ.
THE PATROLS WERE ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT DISSIDENT IRAQI
POPULATIONS FROM ATTACKS BY THEIR GOVERNMENT. IRAQ CONSIDERS THE
ZONES ILLEGAL AND A VIOLATION OF ITS SOVEREIGNTY. IRAQ SAYS ITS
FORCES WILL CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE THE PATROLS, WHILE U-S
OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO AGGRESSIVELY DEFEND THEIR
PILOTS.
THE ATTACKS IN THE NO-FLY ZONES ARE COMING UNDER INCREASING
CRITICISM IN THE MIDDLE EAST. MANY GOVERNMENTS HERE SAY THEY WANT
AN END TO MILITARY ACTIONS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME CALL ON THE
IRAQI GOVERNMENT TO ABIDE BY U-N RESOLUTIONS.
THE REGION HAS SEEN A FLURRY OF DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY IN RECENT
WEEKS IN ANTICIPATION OF A MEETING OF THE ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN
MINISTERS IN CAIRO BEGINNING WEDNESDAY. IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER
MOHAMMED SAEED AL-SHAHAF HEADED FOR THE EGYPTIAN CAPITAL MONDAY
TO DISCUSS WHAT THE IRAQI NEWS AGENCY SAYS WAS THE ILLEGAL
IMPOSITION OF THE NO-FLY ZONES IN IRAQ.
THE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY SAYS IRAQ HAS SENT A LETTER URGING
ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS TO DEMAND AN END TO WHAT IT CALLS THE
AGGRESSIVE AND ILLEGITIMATE USE OF FORCE BY BRITAIN AND THE
UNITED STATES. THE IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER TWO MONTHS AGO WALKED
OUT OF THE LAST ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING, WHEN THEY
DECLINED TO ADOPT A STRONGLY-WORDED CONDEMNATION OF THE U-S AND
BRITISH AIR STRIKES AGAINST HIS COUNTRY.
///REST OPT///
FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE GULF ARAB STATES HAVE ALSO BEEN
PREPARING FOR THE ARAB LEAGUE CONFERENCE, DURING A MEETING IN
SAUDI ARABIA. THEIR SPOKESMAN TOLD REPORTERS IN RIYADH THE IRAQI
CRISIS CANNOT BE SOLVED BY THE USE OF FORCE, BUT ONLY BY
DIPLOMATIC MEANS. HE SAID THE LATEST MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS DO
NOT SERVE THIS GOAL, BUT HE ALSO CALLED ON IRAQ TO IMPLEMENT ALL
U-N RESOLUTIONS IMPOSED SINCE THE GULF WAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/PCF/JO
15-Mar-99 11:22 AM EST (1622 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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