Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/29/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-301485

TITLE=IRAQ / CENTCOM / PAUSE (S-ONLY)

BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON

DATELINE=DOHA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A senior U-S commander at coalition military headquarters in Qatar denies that there has been a pause in military operations aimed at ousting Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. V-O-A correspondent Roger Wilkison reports the denial came after U-S field commanders were quoted by reporters as saying advance units in the push to Baghdad had been ordered to halt operations while their supply lines are built up.

TEXT: U-S Air Force Major General Gene (Victor) Renuart, the coalition's director of operations, told a news briefing that there has been no pause in battlefield activity.

/// RENUART ACTUALITY ///

There is no pause on the battlefield. Because you see a particular formation not moving on a day does not mean there is a pause on the battlefield.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

General Renuart says coalition forces continue to conduct air operations, artillery attacks and long range patrols.

Earlier, commanders of units that are the closest to Baghdad told reporters traveling with those units that they were ordered to pause for four to six days in their northward push to the Iraqi capital because of supply shortages and stiff Iraqi resistance.

General Renuart says the fact that tanks are not rolling forward every day should not be interpreted as a pause in operations. (signed)

NEB/RW/DW/MEM/RH