Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=11/20/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S IRAQ

NUMBER=2-296654

BYLINE=JIM MALONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S warplanes bombed three air defense positions in southern Iraq after coalition aircraft came under fire. Details now from Correspondent Jim Malone.

TEXT: Navy Admiral David Gove told reporters in Washington that U-S warplanes attacked three Iraqi unmanned air defense communications sites after coming under missile and artillery fire:

/// GOVE ACT ///

The Iraqis fired surface-to-air weapons at our coalition aircraft in Operation Southern Watch. We responded by dropping precision guided munitions on three Iraqi air-defense communications facilities near Al Kut and Al-Basrah.

/// END ACT ///

Admiral Gove says the Iraqis have fired on coalition aircraft in the southern no-fly zone on nine of the past 13-days.

Defense Department spokeswoman Torrie Clark says the United States takes the firings seriously, but will not be intimidated from patrolling both the southern and northern no-fly zones:

/// CLARK ACT ///

One is that we are going to continue to patrol these no-fly zones. We are going to continue to protect the Iraqi people from the Saddam Hussein regime. The second thing is, we do consider it a material breach and it is up to the president and others to decide when it is appropriate and if it is appropriate for there to be military action against Iraq.

/// END ACT ///

U-S officials say they believe the firing on coalition aircraft does violate the latest U-N Security Council Resolution demanding that Saddam Hussein disarm. But U-N General Secretary Kofi Annan said Tuesday that he doubts the full U-N Security Council would agree with that view. (SIGNED)

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