DATE=1/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244634
TITLE=IRAQ ATTACK (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE IRAQI NEWS AGENCY SAYS U-S AND BRITISH MISSILES HAVE 
STRUCK TARGETS IN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF BASRA, KILLING AN 
UNSPECIFIED NUMBER OF CIVILIANS.  THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT HAS 
CONFIRMED U-S PLANES FIRED AT IRAQI AIR DEFENSE INSTALLATION IN 
SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN IRAQ, BUT DENIES CIVILIAN AREAS WERE 
TARGETED.  CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST 
BUREAU IN CAIRO.

TEXT:  A SENIOR IRAQI OFFICIAL TOLD REPORTERS ATTACKS OCCURRED 
(MONDAY) AGAINST TWO RESIDENTIAL AREAS, THE AIRPORT, AND AN OIL 
FIELD NEAR THE CITY OF BASRA.  HE SAID SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE KILLED
AND SEVERAL MORE WERE WOUNDED.

CLASHES BETWEEN IRAQI AND WESTERN FORCES HAVE BEEN INCREASING IN 
THE NO-FLY ZONES IN SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN IRAQ.  U-S WARPLANES 
TWICE FIRED ON IRAQI AIR DEFENSES, AFTER BEING TARGETED BY IRAQI 
RADAR.  A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED MONDAY IN NORTHERN IRAQ.

WESTERN FORCES ESTABLISHED THE NO-FLY ZONES FOLLOWING THE GULF 
WAR TO PROTECT DISSIDENT POPULATIONS FROM IRAQI AIR ATTACKS.  THE
IRAQI GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS THE NO-FLY ZONES ILLEGAL AND HAS 
REPEATEDLY CHALLENGED THEM SINCE THE U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES 
LAST MONTH.

IRAQ IS REPORTEDLY REINFORCING ITS DEFENSES IN SOUTHERN IRAQ. THE
MILITARY COMMANDER OF THE BASRA ZONE WAS QUOTED SUNDAY AS SAYING 
THE REINFORCEMENTS ARE IN ANTICIPATION OF RENEWED AIR ATTACKS.  
BUT THE OFFICER SAID THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT DOES  NOT  INTEND TO 
USE THE FORCES AGAINST ITS NEIGHBORS.

                        /// REST OPT. ///

THE HEIGHTENED TENSIONS FOLLOW IRAQ'S REJECTION OF EFFORTS BY THE
ARAB LEAGUE TO FORGE A JOINT ARAB RESPONSE TO THE IRAQI CRISIS.

IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMED SAEED AL-SAHAF STORMED OUT OF A 
MEETING OF ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS SUNDAY IN CAIRO, ACCUSING THEM 
OF ADOPTING POSITIONS DICTATED BY THE U-S GOVERNMENT.  THE IRAQI 
OFFICIAL SAID THE ARAB MINISTERS WERE UNFAIRLY BLAMING IRAQ FOR 
THE AIR ATTACKS AND ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.

THE ARAB MINISTERS IN A FINAL STATEMENT EXPRESSED DISPLEASURE 
OVER MILITARY ACTIONS AGAINST IRAQ AND SAID THEY WOULD LOBBY THE 
U-N SECURITY COUNCIL TO LIFT THE SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ.  BUT 
THEY ALSO URGED IRAQ TO REFRAIN FROM PROVOCATIVE ACTIONS AGAINST 
ITS NEIGHBORS AND TO ABIDE BY U-N RESOLUTIONS.

REACTION IN THE ARAB WORLD TO THE IRAQI WALKOUT HAS BEEN LARGELY 
CRITICAL.  

THE NEWS MEDIA IN MOST COUNTRIES IN THE REGION ACCUSE IRAQ OF 
SEEKING A CONFRONTATION WITH ARAB GOVERNMENTS AND WESTERN FORCES.
IT SAYS IRAQ HAS ADOPTED THIS POLICY IN AN EFFORT TO DRIVE A 
WEDGE BETWEEN ARAB PEOPLE AND THEIR GOVERNMENTS.  MANY SAY AS A 
RESULT, IRAQ HAS FURTHER ISOLATED ITSELF FROM THE REST OF THE 
ARAB WORLD.   (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/RAE

25-Jan-99 10:15 AM EST (1515 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.