DATE=12/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243542
TITLE=IRAQ / ARAB PARLIAMENT UPDATE (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE ARAB PARLIAMENTARY UNION HAS CONCLUDED A MEETING IN 
JORDAN BY CONDEMNING LAST WEEK'S U-S AND BRITISH AIR RAIDS 
AGAINST IRAQ FOR ITS REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTIONS.  CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE 
EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO THAT DELEGATES ARE DEMANDING COMPENSATION 
FOR THE ATTACKS.

TEXT: THE ARAB PARLIAMENTARY UNION ENDED ITS ONE-DAY MEETING 
SUNDAY NIGHT BY ADOPTING A RESOLUTION THAT SEVERELY CRITICIZES 
THE U-S AND BRITISH ATTACKS AGAINST IRAQ LAST WEEK AND CALLS FOR 
COMPENSATION TO BE PAID TO IRAQ.

THE RESOLUTION, ADOPTED AFTER A ONE-DAY MEETING IN AMMAN, CALLED 
ON ARAB NATIONS TO WORK TOWARD LIFTING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS -- BUT 
DID NOT SUPPORT A CALL BY THE IRAQI DELEGATION TO IMPOSE 
SANCTIONS ON U-S AND BRITISH INTERESTS IN THE ARAB WORLD.

THE IRAQI RESOLUTION ALSO CALLED FOR ALL FOREIGN TROOPS TO BE 
WITHDRAWN FROM THE GULF REGION -- A REFERENCE TO THE THOUSANDS OF
ALLIED TROOPS STATIONED IN THE REGION SINCE THE GULF WAR EIGHT 
YEARS AGO.

JORDAN'S CROWN PRINCE HASSAN OPENED SUNDAY'S MEETING EXPRESSING 
ARAB SOLIDARITY WITH THE IRAQI PEOPLE.

              ///HASSAN ACT (ARABIC) FADE UNDER///

THE JORDANIAN CROWN PRINCE PRAISED IRAQIS WHO, HE SAID, SUFFERED 
THE DEATHS OF THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WITHOUT LOSING THEIR ARAB 
PRIDE AND DIGNITY.

OUTSIDE THE MEETING IN AMMAN'S ROYAL THEATER, DEMONSTRATORS 
SHOUTED ANTI-AMERICAN SLOGANS AND WAVED A BANNER SAYING ANY 
AGGRESSION AGAINST IRAQ IS AN ATTACK AGAINST THE ENTIRE ARAB 
WORLD.

                         ///REST OPT///

IRAQI OFFICIALS, MEANWHILE, CONTINUE TO EXPRESS DEFIANCE 
FOLLOWING THE AIR STRIKES.

VICE PRESIDENT TAHA YASSIN RAMADAN SAID SUNDAY IRAQ DOES NOT 
RECOGNIZE THE NO-FLY ZONES ESTABLISHED BY ALLIED FORCES TO 
PROTECT DISSIDENT POPULATIONS IN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ FROM 
GOVERNMENT (BAGHDAD) ATTACKS.

IN A TELEVISION INTERVIEW, THE IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT SAID DEFENSE 
FORCES WILL DO WHAT THEY CAN TO DEFEND WHAT HE CALLED VIOLATIONS 
OF IRAQI SOVEREIGNTY.

IRAQI OFFICIALS SAID THEIR AIR DEFENSES SATURDAY FIRED ON WESTERN
PLANES IN SOUTHERN IRAQ.  A BRITISH OFFICIAL DENIED SUCH AN 
ATTACK, BUT SAID ALLIED PILOTS ARE UNDER ORDERS TO DESTROY IRAQI 
UNITS THAT TRY TO FIRE ON THEIR PLANES. (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/ENE/JO

27-Dec-98 5:16 PM EST (2216 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.