DATE=1/15/98

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-225360

TITLE=U-S/IRAQ PULLOUT (L)

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS IS WITHDRAWING AN AMERICAN-LED WEAPONS

INSPECTIONS TEAM THAT HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF THE LATEST 

CONFRONTATION WITH THE SADDAM HUSSEIN GOVERNMENT. THE CLINTON 

ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT "RESPECTS" THE DECISION. V-O-A'S DAVID 

GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.



TEXT:  WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF, AND 

RESPECT, THE U-N DECISION TO REMOVE THE TEAM LED BY AMERICAN 

SCOTT RITTER -- WHICH HAS BEEN BARRED FROM OPERATING BY THE 

IRAQIS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK.



THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE MULTI-NATIONAL TEAM WOULD APPEAR TO BE AN 

ESCALATION OF THE STAKES IN THE LATEST CONFLICT OVER THE 

INSPECTORS, IN ADVANCE OF WHAT U-S OFFICIALS SAY WILL BE A 

CRITICAL VISIT TO BAGHDAD BY CHIEF U-N INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER.



IRAQ HALTED THE WORK OF MR. RITTER'S TEAM AMID REPORTS IT WAS 

LOOKING INTO EVIDENCE IRAQ MAY HAVE USED PRISONERS AS HUMAN 

GUINEA PIGS IN RECENT IN CHEMICAL WEAPONS EXPERIMENTS. BAGHDAD 

SAYS IT ACTED BECAUSE THE RITTER TEAM IS AMERICAN-DOMINATED AND 

BIASED.



PRESIDENT CLINTON EARLIER THURSDAY WELCOMED THE U-N SECURITY 

COUNCIL'S UNANIMOUS CONDEMNATION OF THE IRAQI ACTION AND SAID IT 

GIVES THE INSPECTIONS CHIEF A STRONG MANDATE FOR HIS BAGHDAD 

MISSION:



                     ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///



         MR. BUTLER IS GOING BACK TO IRAQ WITH THE STRONG SUPPORT

         OF THE UNITED NATIONS. I AM VERY ENCOURAGED THAT EVEN 

         THOSE WHO HAD BEEN MORE SYMPATHETIC TO IRAQ SAW THROUGH 

         THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE ACTION. SO, NOW WE HAVE TO 

         SEE WHAT HAPPENS. HE OUGHT BE GIVEN  ACCESS. HE'S GOING 

         BACK THERE. HE'S GOT THE SUPPORT OF THE U-N. WE'RE GOING

         TO WATCH THIS A DAY AT A TIME AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.



                          ///END ACT///



THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE 

STANDOFF ARE NEARLY EXHAUSTED. A SIMILAR CRISIS WAS DEFUSED IN 

NOVEMBER WHEN IRAQ, AFTER RUSSIAN MEDIATION, RECINDED A MOVE TO 

EXPEL AMERICAN INSPECTORS.



OFFICIALS HERE  SAY THE U-N'S REASONING IN WITHDRAWING THE RITTER

TEAM IS THAT IT CAN SERVE NO USEFUL PURPOSE IN IRAQ AFTER BEING 

REBUFFED IN AT LEAST TWO ATTEMPTS TO RESUME WORK. THEY SAY THE 

DECISION WAS MADE BY THE U-N INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM, AND 

IS NOT A U-S CONCESSION. (SIGNED)







NEB/DAG/ENE/PT



15-Jan-98 8:50 PM EST (0150 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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