DATE=2/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245882
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES HAS BLAMED THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT FOR THE
KILLING OF A PROMINENT IRAQI SHIITE CLERIC SAYING IT APPEARS TO 
BE ANOTHER ACT OF REPRESSION.  FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S
KYLE KING REPORTS. 

TEXT:  STATE DEPARTMENT REACTION TO THE ASSASSINATION OF THE 
SHIITE CLERIC CAME IN A SHARPLY WORDED RESPONSE TO IRAQI 
ALLEGATIONS OF U-S INVOLVEMENT. 

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY STRONGLY DENIED THE 
ALLEGATIONS, WHICH WERE MADE TUESDAY BY THE IRAQI FOREIGN 
MINISTER. 

                       /// FOLEY ACT /// 

         THAT IS A BASELESS AND SHOCKING AND COMPLETELY ERRONEOUS
         ACCUSATION.  IT IS CLEAR THIS IS THE FOURTH RELIGIOUS 
         CLERIC THAT HAS BEEN ASSASSINATED IN IRAQ IN THE LAST 
         YEAR, THIS IS AN ESTEEMED RELIGIOUS FIGURE WHO HAS BEEN 
         VISITED BY AND THREATENED BY SADDAM'S SECURITY FORCES. 

                        /// END ACT /// 

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NO WAY TO CONFIRM REPORTS OF 
GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE ASSASSINATION.  BUT THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT SAYS THE KILLING FITS A PATTERN OR IRAQI REPRESSION. 

SINCE THE DEATH OF THE SHIITE CLERIC LAST FRIDAY, THERE HAVE BEEN
UNCONFIRMED REPORTS OF VIOLENT ANTI-GOVERNMENT UNREST IN BAGHDAD 
AND SOUTHERN IRAQ. 

IRAQI OFFICIALS BROUGHT REPORTERS TO SOME AREAS TO REFUTE 
ALLEGATIONS THAT A GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN WAS UNDERWAY, BUT 
OPPOSITION SOURCES SAY AS MANY AS 300 PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED
IN THE DISTURBANCES. 

U-S OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE NO WAY OF CONFIRMING THE 
FIGURES.  BUT THEY SAY INFORMATION FROM NORMALLY RELIABLE 
OPPOSITION SOURCES INDICATES AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN 
BAGHDAD AND HUNDREDS ARRESTED, INCLUDING SEVERAL RELIGIOUS 
SCHOLARS.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/KBK/WDC/PT



23-Feb-99 7:29 PM EST (0029 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.