Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/5/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH / ARAB REACT (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-315642

BYLINE=GREG LAMOTTE

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush's appearance on two Arabic television stations (Al-Arabiya, Al Hurra) Wednesday denouncing the alleged prisoner abuse by U-S soldiers and promising action will be taken to punish them has met with a mixed reaction in the Arab countries. V-O-A's Greg LaMotte in Cairo has this report.

TEXT: Arab commentators welcomed Mr. Bush's appearance on Arabic television stations, but said his words will go only so far in allaying public anger over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

Former Egyptian diplomat and expert on Arab affairs, Abdullah al-Ashaal, says the president's words will resonate with many Arabs, but not all.

/ / / AL-ASHAAL ACT / / /

In the Arab world, I think this is very much welcome because we want to hear from the president of the United States that the United States is committed to punish the culprits and the wrongdoers in these incidents. But, at the same time, some circles of course are not taking the message as straight as I may take it.

/ / / END ACT / / /

One such person is the spokesman for the 22-member Arab League, Hossam Zaki. He says the president's promises of punishment won't satisfy many Arabs who are already angry over the U-S-led war against Iraq.

/ / / ZAKI ACT / / /

So far we have only seen military confrontation. We have only seen abuses in Iraqi prisons. The United States is holding this banner of freedom and democracy and respects for human rights. But, I think this goodwill and good intention has not been translated on the ground.

/ / / END ACT / / /

President Bush said Wednesday that this week's revelation about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U-S soldiers was abhorrent and the culprits will be punished.

/ / / BUSH ACT / / /

We are an open society. We are a society that is willing to investigate, fully investigate in this case what took place in that prison. There will be investigations. People will be brought to justice.

/ / / END ACT / / /

The head of the political science department at Lebanese-American University in Beirut, Sami Baroudi, says Mr. Bush will now have to deliver on his promise.

/ / / BAROUDI ACT / / /

What will sway people is if they see real punishment, being more than reprimands. How the United States is going to deal with the perpetrators of those acts. That may be more effective than a speech by (President) Bush.

/ / / END ACT / / /

Mr. Bush said the allegations of prisoner abuse in Iraq are being taken seriously, and assured the Arab viewers that justice will be done. (Signed)

NEB/GL/MAR/RH/FC