DATE=2/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245799
TITLE=IRAQ CLASHES  (L)
 BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT IS DENYING REPORTS BY EXILED IRAQI 
OPPOSITION GROUPS THAT DOZENS OF PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND SCORES 
WOUNDED IN VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN A NUMBER OF IRAQI CITIES.  
CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB IN OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU REPORTS THE 
CLASHES FOLLOW THE MURDER LAST FRIDAY OF IRAQ'S SENIOR SHI'ITE 
LEADER.

TEXT:  IRAQI OPPOSITION LEADERS IN IRAN, JORDAN, AND SYRIA MONDAY
SAID IRAQI SECURITY FORCES ARE ON ALERT AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF 
VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN BAGHDAD AND THE CITY OF NAJAF, 
160-KILOMETERS SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL.  

DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTED IN THE SOUTHERN CITIES OF 
KARBALLAH AND NASSIRIYAH.  HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE REPORTEDLY 
BEEN DETAINED IN A SECURITY CRACKDOWN.

THE LONDON-BASED SPOKESMAN FOR THE OPPOSITION "SUPREME COUNCIL OF
THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION IN IRAQ", HAMED AL-BAYATI, SAYS THE 
SITUATION IN IRAQ IS TENSE.

                      ///AL-BAYATI ACT.///

         WE HAVE CONFIRMED REPORTS.  WE HAVE CONTACT, DIRECT 
         CONTACT, WITH PEOPLE INSIDE IRAQ WHO CONFIRM THAT THERE 
         WAS DEMONSTRATIONS.  THERE WAS INJURED PEOPLE AND PEOPLE
         WHO WERE KILLED IN THOSE DEMONSTRATIONS, IN ADDITION TO 
         A CAMPAIGN OF MASS ARRESTS.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE CLASHES REPORTEDLY BROKE OUT AFTER IRAQ'S SENIOR SHI'ITE 
LEADER, AYATOLLAH MOHAMMED SADEQ AL-SADR, AND HIS TWO SONS WERE 
SHOT TO DEATH LAST FRIDAY.  OPPOSITION LEADERS SAY THE IRAQI 
GOVERNMENT ORDERED THE KILLINGS TO COUNTER GROWING DISSENT BY 
SHI'ITE MUSLIMS AND TO BOLSTER SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENT AMONG 
THE MINORITY SUNNI-MUSLIM POPULATION.

THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT HAS DENIED THE REPORTED CLASHES.  A 
SPOKESMAN (MONDAY) CALLED THE REPORTS BASELESS AND FALSE, AND 
SAID JOURNALISTS SOON WILL BE TAKEN TO THE AREAS TO PROVE IT.  

THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THE MURDER OF THE AYATOLLAH AND HIS SONS
SATURDAY AND SAID SEVERAL ARRESTS WERE MADE.  THE GOVERNMENT SAYS
THE MURDERS ARE THE WORK OF FOREIGN FORCES TRYING TO UNDERMINE 
IRAQI UNITY.

                        /// REST OPT ///

REACTION HAS BEEN SWIFT IN OTHER COUNTRIES WITH LARGE SHI'ITE 
MUSLIM POPULATIONS.  THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN HAS CONDEMNED THE 
MURDERS AND SAYS THEY ARE PART OF A CAMPAIGN OF PERSECUTION BY 
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT.  LEBANON'S LEADING SHI'ITE POLITICIAN, 
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER NABIH BERRI, CANCELLED A MEETING (MONDAY) WITH
VISITING IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER, MOHAMMED SAEED AL-SAHAF, IN  
PROTEST OVER THE ATTACK.   (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/PCF/RAE

22-Feb-99 10:03 AM EST (1503 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.