DATE=2/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245855
TITLE=IRAQ CLASHES (L ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  U-S WARPLANES HAVE TWICE CLASHED WITH IRAQI AIR DEFENSES 
IN NORTHERN IRAQ.  MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS 
THE INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE AS IRAQI OFFICIALS SOUGHT TO DISCOUNT 
CLAIMS OF WIDESPREAD DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE COUNTRY FOLLOWING THE 
MURDER OF THE COUNTRY'S LEADING SHI'ITE MUSLIM CLERIC. 

TEXT:  U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEIR WARPLANES BOMBED AN IRAQI 
ARTILLERY UNIT AND A RADAR INSTALLATION (TUESDAY) AFTER COMING 
UNDER FIRE NEAR THE NORTHERN IRAQI CITY OF MOSUL.  A SPOKESMAN 
SAID THE PLANES RETURNED UNHARMED TO THEIR BASE IN SOUTHERN 
TURKEY.

WESTERN PATROLS HAVE CLASHED ALMOST DAILY IN RECENT MONTHS IN THE
NO-FLY ZONES OVER NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ.  IRAQ OPPOSES THE 
NO-FLY ZONES, WHICH WERE SET UP TO PROTECT DISSIDENT POPULATIONS 
FROM AIR ATTACKS BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT.

MEANWHILE, THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING TO DISPROVE REPORTS OF
DEMONSTRATIONS IN SEVERAL IRAQI CITIES, FOLLOWING THE MURDER  OF 
THE COUNTRY'S LEADING SHI'ITE MUSLIM LEADER.  MOHAMMED SADEQ 
AL-SADR AND HIS TWO SONS WERE SHOT TO DEATH FRIDAY IN THE 
SOUTHERN CITY OF NAJAF.

JOURNALISTS TUESDAY VISITED THE SOUTHERN CITY OF NASSIRIYA UNDER 
GOVERNMENT ESCORT AND REPORTED IT WAS CALM.  THEY ALSO QUOTED 
VISITORS TO THE CITIES OF NAJAF, KARBALLA, AND THE BAGHDAD SUBURB
OF SADDAM CITY AS SAYING THESE AREAS WERE ALSO QUIET.

EXILED OPPOSITION LEADERS SAY POPULAR DEMONSTRATIONS ERUPTED IN 
THESE PREDOMINANTLY SHI'ITE AREAS AFTER THE MURDER OF THE 
AYATOLLAH WAS ANNOUNCED LAST SATURDAY.  THEY SAY SECURITY FORCES 
HAVE ARRESTED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN A MAJOR CRACKDOWN.

IN IRAN, HUNDREDS OF SHI'ITE SYMPATHIZERS DEMONSTRATED (TUESDAY) 
AT THE IRAQI EMBASSY IN TEHRAN.  RIOT POLICE FIRED SHOTS INTO THE
AIR TO DISPERSE THE DEMONSTRATIONS AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WERE 
ARRESTED.

THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS CONDEMNED THE MURDER OF THE AYATOLLAH,
THE THIRD IN IRAQ IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR.  IT SAYS THE KILLINGS 
ARE PART OF AN IRAQI GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN OF PERSECUTION OF 
SHI'ITE LEADERS IN IRAQ.

THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT DENIES THE CHARGES.  IT BLAMES THE MURDERS 
ON FOREIGN FORCES, WHICH IT ACCUSES OF SEEKING TO DIVIDE THE 
IRAQI PEOPLE.  THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT SAID THE REPORTED 
ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS, WHICH WERE WIDELY COVERED IN THE 
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, WERE BASELESS AND FALSE.   (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/JWH/RAE

23-Feb-99 11:32 AM EST (1632 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.