DATE=11/30/98 TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-42001 TITLE=IRAQI OPPOSITION BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN DATELINE=LONDON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: EXILED OPPONENTS OF SADDAM HUSSEIN ARE TRYING TO PUT ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES AND FIND A COMMON STRATEGY TO TOPPLE THE IRAQI LEADER. MOST SAY THE TIME IS RIPE FOR ACTION BECAUSE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S INCREASING ISOLATION, EVEN IN THE ARAB WORLD. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN TAKES A CLOSER LOOK. TEXT: REPRESENTATIVES OF 16 IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS MET WITH TOP-LEVEL BRITISH AND AMERICAN OFFICIALS IN LONDON LAST WEEK TO SEEK THEIR SUPPORT FOR A COMMON CAUSE -- A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD. THEIR MESSAGE NOW IS ONE OF UNITY OF PURPOSE, BUT THEIR PAST HAS BEEN CLOUDED BY FACTIONAL INFIGHTING. THE IRAQI EXILES ARGUE THAT THEIR DIFFERENCES ARE A NORMAL FEATURE OF ANY DEMOCRACY. SHERIF ALI OF THE "CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY MOVEMENT" INSISTS THEY CAN PUT ASIDE THEIR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES TO ADVANCE THEIR CAUSE. /// ALI ACT /// OUR GOALS ARE ONE. WE WANT A DEMOCRATIC REGIME IN IRAQ AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SPECIAL EFFORTS NOW TO UNITE OUR EFFORTS AND COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS TO WORK TOGETHER. /// END ACT /// PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO UNITE KURDS AND COMMUNISTS, ALONG WITH SUNNI AND SHIITE MUSLIM GROUPS UNDER ONE UMBRELLA GROUP -- THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS, OR I-N-C -- FALTERED BECAUSE OF DISPUTES OVER LEADERSHIP AND LOGISTICS. THE I-N-C WANTS TO REVITALIZE ITS ROLE AND MAY WELL USE SOME OF THE 97-MILLION DOLLARS OF U-S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO DO THAT. THE I-N-C'S NABIL MUSAWI SAYS THE GROUP HAS ALSO PROPOSED SETTING UP A PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT ON IRAQI SOIL, PREFERABLY IN THE SOUTHERN NO-FLY ZONE PROTECTED BY BRITISH AND U-S SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT. /// MUSAWI ACT /// WE BELIEVE IT IS FUTILE TO DECLARE A GOVERNMENT IN EXILE IN LONDON OR PARIS. IT HAS TO BE ON IRAQI TERRITORY AND DEMONSTRATE TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE THAT IT IS SERIOUS ABOUT CHANGE BY GOING THERE, INSIDE IRAQ, AND SHARING THE DAILY PROBLEMS THAT THE AVERAGE IRAQI HAS. ///END ACT /// THE I-N-C HAD AN OPERATIONAL OFFICE IN THE AUTONOMOUS KURDISH CITY OF SALAHUDDIN IN THE NORTHERN NO-FLY ZONE. BUT THE DISSIDENTS AND AMERICAN C-I-A AGENTS WORKING WITH THEM WERE FORCED TO FLEE THE AREA IN 1996. THAT'S WHEN IRAQI TROOPS MARCHED IN TO SUPPORT THE KURDISH DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S PUSH TO OUST A RIVAL KURDISH FACTION FROM THE AREA. MR. MUSAWI SAYS IT IS TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT DIRECT MILITARY SUPPORT FROM EITHER BRITAIN OR THE UNITED STATES. //OPT// /// SECOND MUSAWI ACT /// WHAT WE NEED TO DO FIRST AMONG US IS TO PRESENT A UNIFIED POLITICAL AGENDA AND MECHANISM ON HOW TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE ACTUALLY COMMENCE DISCUSSION OF MILITARY AID AND TRAINING. /// END ACT /// //END OPT// IRAQI EXILES LIKE HAMID BAYATI OF THE "SUPSEME COUOCIL OF ISLAMIC REVOLUTION IN IRAQ" INSIST IT IS NOT UP TO OTHERS TO DO THE FIGHTING FOR THEM. /// BAYATI ACT /// IT IS UP TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN LEADER. IT IS UP TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB OF TOPPLING THE IRAQI REGIME BUT WE WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE U-K AND OTHER FRIENDLY GOVERNMENTS. /// END ACT /// CRITICS OF THE IRAQI OPPOSITION COMPLAIN THEY HAVE LITTLE CLOUT INSIDE IRAQ, FROM WHERE ANY EFFECTIVE UPRISING AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN MUST COME. THE REGIME'S TIGHT SECURITY APPARATUS HAS THWARTED PAST COUP ATTEMPTS AND RESULTED IN THE PERIODIC ASSASSINATION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S OPPONENTS AT HOME. STILL, THE IRAQI EXILES IN LONDON AGREE THERE IS A NEW SENSE OF URGENCY AFTER SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LATEST CONFRONTATIONS WITH THE UNITED NATIONS AND HIS GROWING DIPLOMATIC ISOLATION. THE CRISIS SHOWED LESS ENTHUSIASM AMONG FORMER IRAQ SUPPORTERS IN THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL -- LIKE FRANCE, RUSSIA AND CHINA. AT THE SAME TIME, PRESIDENT CLINTON AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR GAVE THEIR MOST PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE IRAQI OPPOSITION. THE LOW-KEY RESPONSE AND WARNING ISSUED TO IRAQ BY MANY ARAB NEIGHBORS HAS GIVEN THE DISSIDENTS SOME HOPE OF QUIETLY GAINING MORE SUPPORT CLOSER TO HOME. (SIGNED) NEB/LMK/PCF 30-Nov-98 11:37 AM EST (1637 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .