DATE=11/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242234
TITLE=IRAQ / MONARCHY / OPPOSITION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  SOME MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ARE 
CONSOLIDATING THEIR EFFORTS TO UNSEAT IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM 
HUSSEIN.  THIS WEEK, MORE THAN A DOZEN IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS 
HAVE MET IN LONDON WITH BRITISH AND AMERICAN OFFICIALS.  THE 
WESTERN DIPLOMATS HAVE ENCOURAGED THE GROUPS TO BRING SADDAM 
HUSSEIN BEFORE AN INTERNATIONAL COURT FOR CRIMES AGAINST 
HUMANITY.  ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THOSE TALKS WAS A MAN WITH 
A CLAIM TO THE IRAQI THRONE -- SHARIF ALI BIN AL HUSSEIN, THE 
COUSIN OF IRAQ'S LAST KING.  AS V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH 
REPORTS, HE HOPES THE OFTEN-CLASHING OPPOSITION WILL UNITE IN 
SUPPORT OF THE MONARCHY.

TEXT:  THE LAST IRAQI KING, FAISAL THE SECOND, DIED DURING THE 
1958 IRAQI REVOLUTION.  FAISAL'S COUSIN, SHARIF ALI BIN AL 
HUSSEIN, SAYS THE IRAQI PEOPLE AFTER THE 1991 GULF WAR APPROACHED
THE ROYAL FAMILY ABOUT REVIVING THE MONARCHY.  

SHARIF ALI TOLD V-O-A THE FAMILY CHOSE HIM AS THE CANDIDATE TO 
RECLAIM THE THRONE, BUT HE SAYS HE WILL  NOT  FORCE HIMSELF ON 
THE IRAQI PEOPLE.

                   //  SHARIF ALI ACT ONE  //

         ONE OF MY FIRST CONDITIONS WAS THAT THE IRAQI PEOPLE 
         SHOULD DECIDE WHAT FORM OF GOVERNMENT THEY WANT THROUGH 
         A DIRECT AND FREE REFERENDUM, AND THAT IT SHOULD BE A 
         DEMAND FROM ALL THE IRAQI PEOPLE.

                         //  END ACT  //

SHARIF ALI BIN AL HUSSEIN HOPES DIVIDED OPPOSITION GROUPS CAN 
UNITE BEHIND A ROYAL LEADER.  HE CLAIMS, UNLIKE OTHER OPPOSITION 
GROUPS, THE MONARCHY GETS SUPPORT FROM BOTH SHI'ITE AND SUNNI 
MUSLIMS IN IRAQ, AND FROM THE COUNTRY'S KURDISH COMMUNITY.

                   //  SHARIF ALI ACT TWO  //

         IT WILL BE A NEUTRAL ELEMENT THAT IS NOT  COMING FROM 
         ANY SPECIFIC SECT OR GROUP IN IRAQI SOCIETY, AND SO IT 
         IS A UNIFYING FACTOR THAT WILL CREATE A LEVEL PLAYING 
         FIELD FOR ALL ELEMENTS OF IRAQI SOCIETY.

                         //  END ACT  //

THE IRAQI ROYAL SAYS RECENT INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE 
IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN ARE VERY ENCOURAGING TO THE 
OPPOSITION.  THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS SET ASIDE 97-MILLION DOLLARS 
TO HELP THE OPPOSITION UNIFY ITSELF AND CHANGE THE LEADERSHIP IN 
IRAQ. 

SHARIF ALI SAYS THE IMPORTANT THING IS GETTING THE WORD INTO IRAQ
THAT THE OPPOSITION MOVEMENTS THERE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

                  //  SHARIF ALI ACT THREE  //

         WE WOULD LOOK TOWARD DIPLOMATIC AND POLITICAL SUPPORT, 
         MORE THAN MILITARY SUPPORT.  THE IRAQI PEOPLE ARE 
         CAPACBLE OF CHANGING THIS REGIME.  THEY ALMOST DID IT IN
         '91, BUT INTERNATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES PREVENTED THEM FROM
         DOING THIS.  AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS TIME THE
         RIGHT CONDITIONS ARE IN PLACE, SO THAT WHEN WE GO FOR 
         IT, AND WHEN OUR SUPPORTERS IN IRAQ MAKE THEIR MOVE, 
         THAT THERE IS INTERNATIONAL BACKING FOR A NEW REGIME IN 
         IRAQ.  THEY NEED TO HEAR THIS QUITE CLEARLY.

                         //  END ACT  //

THE LONDON-BASED ROYAL SAYS HE HAS VERY GOOD TIES WITH EVERYONE 
IN THE IRAQI OPPOSITION AND IS USING THOSE TIES TO BRING THE 
GROUPS TOGETHER TO COORDINATE THEIR EFFORTS.  HE SAYS THE GROUPS 
ALL SHARE THE SAME GOAL AND ARE WORKING OUT WHAT HE CALLS "MINOR 
DIFFERENCES" IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/CEM/PT

27-Nov-98 8:56 PM EST (0156 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.