DATE=2/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227137
TITLE=KUWAIT REACTION (S)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=KUWAIT CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  WORD OF IRAQI AGREEMENT ON A DEAL THAT MAY DIFFUSE THE 
CURRENT CRISIS OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS BROUGHT A MIXED REACTION 
IN THE REGION MOST AFFECTED.  FROM KUWAIT CITY, V-O-A'S GIL 
BUTLER REPORTS THERE IS CONTINUED DISTRUST OF IRAQI LEADER SADDAM
HUSSEIN.

TEXT:  THE MAIN ARABIC LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS HERE HAD BANNER 
HEADLINES.  "SADDAM AGREES, THE LAST WORD IS AMERICA'S," SAID "AL
WATAN."  "SADDAM ACCEPTS, SIGNING TODAY", WAS THE HEADLINE IN "AL
SIYASSA."

MANY KUWAITIS CONTINUE TO BE SKEPTICAL.   FATIMA AL ABDALI -- A 
PROMINENT HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER -- IS WIDELY QUOTED AS SAYING 
AN AGREEMENT WILL NOT HELP KUWAIT RELAX AND CONDEMNS FUTURE 
KUWAITIS TO INSECURITY BECAUSE IRAQ'S SADDAM HUSSEIN IS NOT TO BE
TRUSTED.

THE SCARS OF THE 1990-91 IRAQI OCCUPATION OF KUWAIT ARE STILL 
DEEP AND PAINFUL HERE.

REPORTS U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAD APPARENTLY SUCCEEDED
CAME LATE AT NIGHT HERE AND MANY LEARNED ABOUT IT MONDAY MORNING.
EARLY REACTION FROM ACADEMICS AND MERCHANTS REVEALED DEEP 
SUSPICION OVER WHETHER IRAQ WILL ABIDE BY ANY AGREEMENT.

THE KUWAITI NEWSPAPER "AL QABAS" CARRIED A COMMENTARY PREDICTING 
AN END TO THE PRESENT CRISIS WOULD LEAD TO MORE SUFFERING BY THE 
IRAQI PEOPLE AT THE HANDS OF THEIR LEADER.   IT CONCLUDES:  
"SADDAM SHOULD GO FROM POWER."  (SIGNED)

NEB / MGB / TM / WD

23-Feb-98 1:09 AM EST (0609 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.