DATE=1/26/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244697
TITLE=IRAQ TUESDAY (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-S WARPLANES HAVE AGAIN FIRED ON IRAQI ARTILLERY 
DEFENSES.  AT THE SAME TIME, IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN IS 
STRONGLY CRITICIZING AIR ATTACKS MONDAY THAT KILLED 11 CIVILIANS 
AND WOUNDED DOZENS OF OTHERS NEAR THE SOUTHERN IRAQI CITY OF 
BASRA.  CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST 
BUREAU IN CAIRO.

TEXT:  IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN TOLD HIS PEOPLE (TUESDAY) 
TO BE PATIENT, AND IN A VEILED THREAT, ADDED THEIR BLOOD WILL  
NOT  BE SHED IN VAIN.

THE IRAQI LEADER MADE THE REMARKS IN A MESSAGE TO THE RESIDENTS 
OF BASRA, AFTER ORDERING COMPENSATION FOR THE VICTIMS OF MONDAY'S
AIR ATTACKS.  JOURNALISTS ON THE SCENE REPORT AT LEAST TWO 
RESIDENTIAL AREAS WERE HIT.

U-S WARPLANES FIRED ON DEFENSE INSTALLATIONS IN SOUTHERN IRAQ 
MONDAY AFTER THEY WERE TARGETED BY IRAQI RADAR.  U-S OFFICIALS 
SAY THE PLANES TARGETED ARTILLERY INSTALLATIONS, BUT SAID A 
MISSILE MAY HAVE STRUCK A RESIDENTIAL AREA BY MISTAKE.  THEY 
EXPRESSED REGRET OVER ANY CIVILIAN CASUALTIES, BUT BLAMED IRAQI 
LEADERS BECAUSE THEY TARGETED THE PLANES.

SIMILAR CLASHES HAVE OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS IN THE NO-FLY 
ZONES OVER SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN IRAQ SINCE IRAQ STORMED OUT OF 
AN ARAB LEAGUE MEETING IN CAIRO SUNDAY.  IRAQ ACCUSED THE LEAGUE 
OF UNFAIRLY BLAMING IRAQ FOR THE MILITARY STRIKES.

PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN LASHED OUT (TUESDAY) AT UNNAMED ARAB 
LEADERS WHOM HE ACCUSED OF LISTENING TO IRAQ'S ENEMIES AND NOT TO
THE IRAQI PEOPLE.

IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER CRITICIZED KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA FOR A 
RESOLUTION AT THE CAIRO MEETING THAT EXPRESSED SYMPATHY FOR THE 
SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE, BUT URGED THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT TO 
ABIDE BY U-N RESOLUTIONS.  THE OFFICIAL SAID IRAQ WOULD ACCEPT 
NOTHING LESS THAN A CONDEMNATION OF LAST MONTH'S AIR ATTACKS.

                         /// REST OPT///

MEANWHILE, THE IRAQI NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEBATED MOTIONS TO REJECT 
ALL U-N RESOLUTIONS REGARDING IRAQ AND TO WITHDRAW IRAQ'S 
RECOGNITION OF KUWAIT'S BORDERS.  THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY 
CONDEMNED KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA FOR SUPPORTING MILITARY ACTIONS
AGAINST IRAQ.  AND HE ACCUSED THEM OF FORCING OTHER ARAB 
GOVERNMENTS TO ADOPT WHAT HE CALLED ANTI-IRAQ ATTITUDES AT THE 
ARAB LEAGUE MEETING.

THE DEBATE HAS LED TO SPECULATION THAT IRAQ MIGHT WITHDRAW ITS 
RECOGNITION OF KUWAIT, WHICH WAS ONLY ACCORDED FOUR YEARS AGO.  
BUT ANALYSTS SAY THE ASSEMBLY'S RESOLUTIONS MUST BE APPROVED BY 
THE REVOLUTIONARY COMMAND COUNCIL THAT CONTROLS IRAQI POLITICS.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/SB/RAE/JO

26-Jan-99 9:33 AM EST (1433 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.