DATE=12/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243535
TITLE=IRAQ/ARAB PARLIAMENT (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO 
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

               ///// ED'S: WATCH FOR UPDATES. /////

INTRO:  THE ARAB PARLIAMENTARY UNION HAS OPENED AN EMERGENCY 
MEETING IN JORDAN TO DISCUSS A JOINT ARAB RESPONSE TO THE U-S AND
BRITISH AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ LAST WEEK.  CORRESPONDENT SCOTT 
BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO THE MEETING 
COMES AS IRAQ SAYS IT WILL FIRE ON ANY WESTERN PLANES THAT 
VIOLATE ITS AIR SPACE, INCLUDING PATROLS OVER NO-FLY ZONES IN 
NORTHERO AND SOUTIERN IRAQ.

TEYT:  JORDAN'S CROWN PRINCE HASSAN OPENED THE MEETING OF ARAB 
PARLIAMENTARIANS SUNDAY SAYING ITS PURPOSE IS TO EXPRESS ARAB 
SOLIDARITY WITH THE IRAQI PEOPLE.

               /// PRINCE HASSAN ACT. (ARABIC) ///

THE JORDANIAN CROWN PRINCE PRAISED IRAQI'S WHO, HE SAID, SUFFERED
THE DEATH OF THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF 
THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT LOSING THEIR ARAB PRIDE AND DIGNITY.

THE IRAQI DELEGATION PRESENTED A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR ARAB  
GOVERNMENTS TO LIFT ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ AND TO IMPOSE
THEM INSTEAD ON BRITISH AND U-S INTERESTS IN THE ARAB WORLD.  THE
IRAQI RESOLUTION ALSO DEMANDED ALL FOREIGN TROOPS BE WITHDRAWN 
FROM THE GULF REGION.

/// OPT /// A MEMBER OF THE IRAQI DELEGATION LOUDLY VOICED HIS 
FRUSTRATION, SAYING HIS DELEGATION WANTS TO SEE THE ARAB NATION 
UNITE AND TAKE ONE STAND.

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 ON THE ENTIRE ARAB WORLD.

MOST OF THE 19 MEMBERS OF THE ARAB PARLIAMENTARY UNION SENT 
DELEGATES.  BUT KUWAIT, WHICH WAS INVADED BY IRAQ EIGHT-YEARS AGO
AND HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES, 
WAS NOT PRESENT.  /// END OPT ///

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

VICE PRESIDENT TAHA YASSIN RAMADAN SAID IRAQ DOES NOT RECOGNIZE 
THE NO-FLY ZONES ESTABLISHED BY ALLIED FORCES AFTER THE GULF WAR 
TO PROTECT DISSIDENT POPULATIONS IN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ.  
IN A TELEVISION INTERVIEW, THE OFFICIAL SAID IRAQI DEFENSE FORCES
WILL DO WHAT THEY CAN TO DEFEND, WHAT HE CALLED -- THE VIOLATIONS
OF IRAQI SOVEREIGNTY.

                        /// REST OPT /// 

IRAQI OFFICIALS SATURDAY SAID AIR DEFENSE UNITS FIRED ON WESTERN 
PLANES IN SOUTHERN IRAQ.  THEY SAID IT WAS THE FOURTH VIOLATION 
OF IRAQI AIR SPACE SINCE THE END OF THE AIR STRIKES ONE-WEEK AGO.

A BRITISH OFFICIAL DENIED SUCH AN ATTACK.  HE SAID PILOTS 
PATROLLING SOUTHERN IRAQ SATURDAY HAD SEEN ARTILLERY FIRING IN 
THE DISTANCE, BUT HAD NOT RESPONDED.  BRITISH AND U-S OFFICIALS 
SAY THEIR PILOTS ARE UNDER ORDERS TO DESTROY IRAQI UNITS THAT TRY
TO FIRE ON THEIR PLANES.   (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/DW/RAE

27-Dec-98 8:33 AM EST (1333 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.