DATE=11/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241521
TITLE=BRITAIN / IRAQ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  BRITISH DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR 
IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN TO END HIS BAN ON U-N INSPECTORS.  
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN LONDON REPORTS BRITAIN'S PRIME 
MINISTER SAYS THE WORLD IS LOSING PATIENCE WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN.

TEXT:  BRITISH OFFICIALS ARE QUICK TO SAY THEY WANT A DIPLOMATIC 
SOLUTION TO THE LATEST IRAQI CONFRONTATION WITH U-N INSPECTORS.  
BUT THEY ALSO SAY THE WORLD'S PATIENCE IS RUNNING OUT.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR UNDERLINES THAT IMPATIENCE IN 
HIS COMMENTS TO PARLIAMENT.  HE INSISTS SADDAM HUSSEIN IS STILL 
TRYING TO HIDE HIS BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS.

                       ///  BLAIR ACT  ///

         IT IS CLEAR ON THE EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE COMPILED ON 
         SADDAM HUSSEIN, GOING BACK A PERIOD OF YEARS, THAT HE 
         HAS ATTEMPTED TO DEVELOP THOSE WEAPONS OF MASS 
         DESTRUCTION.  THAT IS THE REASON HE WANTS THE INSPECTORS
         OUT.  HE WANTS THEM OUT SO WE DO NOT KNOW THE WEAPONS OF
         MASS DESTRUCTION HE IS DEVELOPING.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

BRITAIN'S DEFENSE SECRETARY GEORGE ROBERTSON VISITED KUWAIT AND 
BAHRAIN TO DISCUSS THE IRAQI CRISIS, FOLLOWING CLOSE ON THE HEELS
OF A VISIT BY DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN.  THE U-S AND 
BRITISH GOVERNMENTS BOTH SAY THEY HAVE  NOT  RULED OUT MILITARY 
FORCE TO END IRAQ'S LATEST CONFRONTATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS.

MR. ROBERTSON'S SPECIAL ADVISOR, BERNARD GRAY SAYS THE THREAT OF 
AN AIR STRIKE AGAINST IRAQI MILITARY TARGETS IS MORE SERIOUS THIS
TIME THAN IN THE PAST.  HE SAYS SADDAM HUSSEIN SHOULD HEED THE 
WARNING. 

                       ///  GRAY ACT  ///

         IF HE WILL  NOT  COMPLY WITH THE INSPECTORS, IF HE 
         CONTINUES TO FRUSTRATE THEIR WORK, IF HE WILL NOT OPEN 
         UP ALL THE SITES WE NEED TO SEE, THEN WE WILL STOP HIM 
         BECOMING A THREAT TO HIS NEIGHBORS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.  
         IF THAT MEANS MILITARY ACTION THEN WE ARE PREPARED TO 
         TAKE IT.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. GRAY SAYS THE MOOD IN THE GULF HAS SHIFTED SINCE THE LAST 
CONFRONTATION IN FEBRUARY WHEN ARAB LEADERS PUSHED HARD FOR A 
DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION.  HE DESCRIBES IT AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL 
WATERSHED WITH A WIDER RECOGNITION SADDAM HUSSEIN IS AT FAULT, 
AND A GROWING CONSENSUS ON THE NEED FOR A TOUGH STAND AGAINST 
HIM.

BRITISH DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY  NO  FINAL DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN 
YET ON AN AIR STRIKE.  BUT MR GRAY SAYS ANY ACTION WOULD TARGET 
THE IRAQI MILITARY MACHINERY THAT THREATENS REGIONAL STABILITY.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/LMK/JWH/RAE

11-Nov-98 1:31 PM EST (1831 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.