DATE=12/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243284
TITLE= ATTACKS ON IRAQ
BYLINE= SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE= AMMAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS DUE TO MEET WITH HIS NATIONAL 
SECURITY ADVISORS SATURDAY TO DECIDE WHETHER TO CONTINUE AIR 
STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ. CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM AMMAN
THAT CALM HAS RETURNED FOLLOWING A THIRD NIGHT OF ATTACKS IN 
WHICH DOZENS OF MISSILES STRUCK TARGETS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
 
TEXT: THE BARRAGE OF MISSILE STRIKES BEGAN AROUND MIDNIGHT. THEY 
ONLY ENDED JUST BEFORE DAWN SATURDAY, AS THE VOICES OF PREACHERS 
WENT OUT FROM MINARETS AROUND THE COUNTRY CALLING THE FAITHFUL TO
THE PRAYER BEGINNING RAMADAN, ISLAM'S HOLY MONTH OF FASTING AND 
ATONEMENT.
 
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT SAYS IT DOES NOT HAVE OFFICIAL CASUALTY 
FIGURES, BUT THEY ARE BELIEVED TO BE HEAVY. VARIOUS SOURCES SAY 
THE LATEST STRIKES DAMAGED THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE RULING BAATH 
PARTY IN BAGHDAD , A MILITARY FACTORY ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE 
CAPITAL, AND PART OF AN OIL REFINERY NEAR THE PORT OF BASRA ON 
THE GULF. IRAQI SOURCES SAY SEVERAL HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN HIT AS 
WELL.
 
THE HEADQUARTERS OF MILITARY INTELLIGENCE AND THE SECRET SERVICE 
WERE HIT ON PREVIOUS NIGHTS.
 
HOURS BEFORE THE ATTACK, A DEFIANT PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN TOLD 
TELEVISION VIEWERS HE WOULD NEVER COMPROMISE AND NEVER KNEEL DOWN
AND HE URGED HIS COUNTRYMEN TO CONTINUE TO RESIST.
 
///SADDAM ACT. (ARABIC) IN AND FADE///
 
THE IRAQI PRESIDENT ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO HIS AIR DEFENSE FORCES. 
THE IRAQI GENERAL COMMAND SAYS THEY HAVE SHOT DOWN 77 CRUISE 
MISSILES SINCE THE ATTACKS BEGAN EARLY LAST THURSDAY MORNING. U-S
OFFICIALS SAY THEIR CASUALTIES HAVE BEEN MINIMAL.
 
IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ TOLD REPORTERS FRIDAY 
EVENING THE U-S AND BRITISH ATTACKS WERE NOT POLITICAL.
 
///AZIZ ACT.///
IT'S CRIMINAL AGGRESSION BY THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN AGAINST
IRAQ, THE ARAB NATION, THE MOSLEMS, AND AGAINST THE WHOLE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
///END ACT.///
 
THE IRAQI OFFICIAL ACCUSED CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD 
BUTLER OF FABRICATING THE REPORT LAST TUESDAY THAT LED TO THE U-S
AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MR. AZIZ SAID MR. BUTLER
WOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO IRAQ.
 
///REST OPT.///
 
THE EXILED IRAQI OPPOSITION HAS CRITICIZED THE ATTACKS BECAUSE OF
THE HARM THEY ARE INFLICTING ON INNOCENT CIVILIANS. IT IS CALLING
FOR A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT AS THE FINAL SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS 
AND THE VIOLENCE.
 
REACTION IN THE ARAB WORLD HAS BEEN MOSTLY CRITICAL. SYRIA, 
LEBANON AND IRAN HAVE STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE ATTACKS, WHILE OTHER
GOVERNMENTS HAVE EXPRESSED REGRET MIXED WITH CALLS ON IRAQ TO 
RESUME COOPERATION WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.
 
RELIGIOUS LEADERS, DURING SERMONS AT FRIDAY PRAYERS ACROSS THE 
REGION, CRITICIZED THE VIOLENCE AS AN ACT AGAINST FELLOW MUSLIMS.
NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS FOR THE MOST PART CRITICIZED THE VIOLENCE 
BECAUSE OF THE SUFFERING IT INFLICTS ON THE IRAQI PEOPLE, WHILE 
RECALLING THAT IRAQI POLICIES ARE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE.
 
POPULAR SENTIMENT HAS BEEN ONE OF ANGER AND SORROW. AND EMOTIONAL
DEMONSTRATIONS WERE HELD IN A HALF-DOZEN COUNTRIES IN THE REGION.
(SIGNED)
 
NEB/SB/PLM

19-Dec-98 6:09 AM EST (1109 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.