DATE=1/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244674
TITLE=IRAQ-MISSILE-MONDAY (L-4TH UPDATE)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON  
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 




INTRO:  THE GENERAL WHO COMMANDS U-S FORCES IN THE PERSIAN GULF 
SAYS AN AMERICAN MISSILE  MAY  HAVE GONE ASTRAY IN SOUTHERN IRAQ 
MONDAY.  GENERAL ANTHONY ZINNI SAYS HE IS STILL TRYING TO 
DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED, BUT HE DEEPLY REGRETS ANY CIVILIAN 
DEATHS. IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY 11 PEOPLE DIED IN THE INCIDENT.  
V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS.

TEXT:  REPORTS ON IRAQ'S OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCY SAY MISSILES HIT 
BASRA'S SUBURBS MONDAY MORNING, CAUSING THE DEATHS AND DAMAGE.  
TELEVISION PICTURES (ON C-N-N) SHOWED AREAS THAT IRAQIS SAID WERE
WRECKED BY AMERICAN WEAPONS.

GENERAL ZINNI SAYS AMERICAN PILOTS GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO AVOID 
HITTING CIVILIANS.

                   /// FIRST ZINNI ACT ACT ///

         THERE IS STILL A NEED TO REVIEW THE STRIKE.  IT'S 
         POSSIBLE THAT WE DID HAVE A MISSILE THAT DIDN'T PERFORM 
         AS EXPECTED.

                         /// END ACT ///

GENERAL ZINNI SAYS IRAQI FORCES ARE SHOOTING AT U-S PLANES 
PATROLLING THE NO-FLY ZONES MORE AND MORE OFTEN -- AND SHOULD 
THEREFORE BEAR THE BLAME FOR MONDAY'S INCIDENT.

                    /// SECOND ZINNI ACT ///

         THE ULTIMATE REASON AND CAUSE FOR THESE CASUALTIES IS 
         SADDAM HUSSEIN.  HIS ATTACKS AGAINST US, AND HIS 
         DISREGARD FOR THE WELFARE OF HIS OWN PEOPLE, WHICH 
         MANIFESTS ITSELF  NOT  ONLY IN THE HUMANATARIAN SIDE BUT
         [ALSO] IN THE DIRECT ATTACKS HE'S CONDUCTED, AND THE USE
         OF HUMAN SHIELDS, AND THE LOCATION OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT
         IN CIVILIAN AREAS.

                         /// END ACT ///

U-S OFFICIALS SAY AMERICAN PLANES ATTACKED A SURFACE-TO-AIR 
MISSILE SITE NORTH OF BASRA MONDAY, AFTER THE U-S WARPLANES WERE 
THREATENED BY FOUR IRAQI MIGS [JET PLANES], AND FIRED AT BY 
ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNS.  THERE WERE SEVERAL CONFRONTATIONS IN THE 
NORTHERN "NO-FLY" ZONE, AS WELL.

PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY IRAQI FORCES ARE CONFRONTING U-S AND 
BRITISH WARPLANES MORE AND MORE OFTEN AS THE TWO SIDES STRUGGLE 
FOR CONTROL OF THE FLIGHT EXCLUSION ZONES THAT COVER 60 PERCENT 
OF IRAQ.

WESTERN FORCES ESTABLISHED THE "NO-FLY" ZONES FOLLOWING THE 1991 
GULF WAR, TO PROTECT DISSIDENT POPULATIONS FROM IRAQI AIR 
ATTACKS.

THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS THE "NO-FLY" ZONES ILLEGAL, AND IS
REPORTEDLY REINFORCING ITS DEFENSES IN SOUTHERN IRAQ.   (SIGNED).

NEB/JR/WDC/WTW

25-Jan-99 7:18 PM EST (0018 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.