DATE=12/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243514
TITLE=IRAQ SATURDAY (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: EGYPT'S PRIME MINISTER KAMAL AL-GANZOURI IS HOLDING (EDS: 
HELD) A CABINET MEETING SATURDAY TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION IN IRAQ
ONE WEEK AFTER THE U-S AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS ORDERED A HALT TO 
AIR STRIKES.  CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE 
EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO THAT IRAQ NEWSPAPERS VOW THAT U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTORS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO IRAQ, AS THE REGION 
CONTINUES TO SEETHE OVER LAST WEEKS AIR RAIDS.

TEXT: EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS SAID SATURDAY'S MINISTERIAL MEETING WAS 
TO DISCUSS WAYS TO EASE THE SUFFERING OF IRAQS FOLLOWING THE FOUR
NIGHTS OF AIR STRIKES.  THEY SAID IT WOULD ALSO REVIEW EFFORTS TO
LIFT THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ.

THE ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARIAT IS SEEKING TO ORGANIZE A MEETING OF 
ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS AMID CALLS FOR AN ARAB SUMMIT MEETING, AS 
THE ARAB WORLD CONTINUES TO FEEL ANGER AND FRUSTRATION OVER THE 
STRIKES.

IRAQ'S INFLUENTIAL BABEL NEWSPAPER SATURDAY REITERATED THE IRAQI 
POSITION THAT U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO 
RETURN TO IRAQ.AND IT PREDICTED THAT CONTROVERSIAL CHIEF WEAPONS 
INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER, WHOSE REPORT LED TO THE AIR STRIKES, 
WILL BE REPLACED.

IRAQI NEWSPAPERS SAID FRIDAY THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT ALLOW 
ELECTRONIC MONITORING OF SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES TO RESUME, IF 
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ARE LIFTED. BUT THEY DISMISSED CALLS FROM 
WASHINGTON AND LONDON THAT ECONOMIC SANCTIONS WILL BE LIFTED ONLY
AFTER FULL INSPECTIONS HAVE RESUMED.

/// REST OPT ///  POLITICAL OBSERVERS IN THE REGION NOTE THAT ONE
WEEK AFTER THE END OF THE AIR STRIKES, ARAB POSITIONS HAVE 
HARDENED OVER POLICY TOWARD IRAQ.

VIRTUALLY ALL ARAB GOVERNMENTS ARE NOW CALLING FOR AN END TO THE 
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS, SAYING THEY HAVE ONLY SERVED TO WEAKEN THE 
IRAQI PEOPLE, WHILE STRENGTHENING THE IRAQI REGIME.

MANY ARAB LEADERS PRIVATELY ARE EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT A 
MILITARY OPERATION WAS LAUNCHED BY TWO WORLD POWERS WITHOUT THE 
CONSENT OF THEIR PARTNERS IN THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL AND DESPITE
THE OPPOSITION OF A LARGE NUMBER OF NATIONS OF THE WORLD.

THEY SEE THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL AS DIVIDED OVER POLICY TOWARD 
IRAQ FOR WEEKS TO COME.  AS A RESULT, THEY SEE SECRETARY GENERAL 
KOFI ANNAN AS A MEDIATOR WITHOUT CLEAR DIRECTIONS ON WHAT STEPS 
TO TAKE NEXT.  AND THEY SEE MAJOR CRACKS IN THE INTERNATIONAL 
CONSENSUS, FORGED A FEW YEARS AGO, OVER HOW TO COUNTER WHAT ARE 
VIEWED AS THE ROGUE GOVERNMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONS. 
(SIGNED)

NEB/SB/DW/GE



26-Dec-98 8:10 AM EST (1310 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.