DATE=8/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ PROTEST (L)
NUMBER=2-265442
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Iraq, several hundred protesters have
demonstrated outside offices of the United
Nations in Baghdad, denouncing Saudi Arabia and
Kuwait for supporting recent U-S and British air
strikes against Iraq. Iraq says two civilians
were killed in the air raids and at least 22
people wounded. Correspondent Scott Bobb reports
from our Middle East Bureau in Cairo.
TEXT: The protesters chanted slogans against
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and reportedly burned in
effigy an image of the Saudi king. They also
handed a letter to United Nations officials
denouncing the allied air raids.
The demonstration follows a series of verbal
attacks by President Saddam Hussein and other
Iraqi officials on the two Gulf states for
allowing U-S and British warplanes to operate
from bases in their territories. Since the Gulf
War allied planes have patrolled no-fly zones in
southern and northern Iraq to protect dissident
populations there.
Following the speech by the Iraqi president,
Kuwait put some troops on alert.
Saudi Arabia, however, has downplayed the
criticism. A senior Saudi official was quoted by
the official news agency Monday as saying the
kingdom is used to such words and Saudi Arabia
never fired a bullet against another Arab.
The official said his government did not feel the
verbal attacks warranted a special security
meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Allied warplanes struck the city of Samawah, 270
kilometers south of Baghdad Friday and Saturday
nights. Iraq says they hit civilian residences,
a food warehouse, and a train station. U-S and
British officials say the planes attacked
military installations after they were targeted
by Iraqi air defenses. (Signed)
NEB/SB/GE/KL
14-Aug-2000 12:17 PM EDT (14-Aug-2000 1617 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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