Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=11/14/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BRITAIN / IRAQ (L-O)

NUMBER=2-296441

BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE

DATELINE=LONDON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon says 10-percent of the country's armed forces are on fire-fighting duty because of a strike. V-O-A's Michael Drudge reports from London that Mr. Hoon says the military continues preparing for a possible war with Iraq.

TEXT: Mr. Hoon told British radio he has mobilized the armed forces to fill in for striking firefighters, while at the same time keeping an eye on Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

/// HOON ACT ///

What is important is that we maintain the protection of the British public, in this case in relation to the consequences of a fire strike, in that case in relation to the threat that Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction might pose. It is a balancing exercise.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Hoon says no decision has been made about British troop deployments in the Middle East, and he played down suggestions that a war with Iraq could only happen during the cooler winter months.

/// 2ND HOON ACT ///

Our troops, American troops, troops of other allies are trained to cope with some very demanding conditions in the heat, and you should not make any assumptions about the timing.

/// END ACT ///

About 20-thousand military personnel from the British Army, Navy, and Air Force are substituting for 50-thousand firefighters who are on a nationwide strike demanding a 40-percent pay increase.

Three fire-related deaths were reported in the first hours of the strike, which began late Wednesday and is scheduled to last 48-hours. More strikes are planned for later this month and in December if the pay dispute is not resolved.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has rejected such a large salary increase, saying it could open the floodgates for large pay demands by other public sector unions. (SIGNED)

NEB/MWD/AWP/RAE