DATE=2/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245951
TITLE=IRAQ ATTACKS REACT (L)
 BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  IRAQ HAS REACTED WITH ANGER TO WEDNESDAY'S AIR STRIKES 
NEAR THE CAPITAL, BAGHDAD.  HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DEMONSTRATED IN 
SUPPORT OF IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN AS THE IRAQI FOREIGN 
MINISTER CONDEMNED THE ATTACK AND VOWED HIS COUNTRY WILL CONTINUE
TO CONFRONT WESTERN AIR PATROLS.  CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB 
REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE-EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO.

TEXT:  IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER TOLD THE "AL-HAYAT" NEWSPAPER THE 
ATTACKS WEDNESDAY HIT CIVILIAN TARGETS.  HE CALLED IT A DANGEROUS
ESCALATION AND SAID THEY ARE AIMED AT PREPARING A GROUND ASSAULT 
ON HIS COUNTRY. 

THE FOREIGN MINSTER'S COMMENTS CAME AFTER U-S PLANES STRUCK 
TARGETS LATE WEDNESDAY OUTSIDE BAGHDAD.  THEY WERE THE FIRST 
STRIKES TO COME CLOSE TO THE IRAQI CAPITAL SINCE LAST DECEMBER, 
WHEN WESTERN PLANES STAGED FOUR NIGHTS OF STRIKES FOLLOWING THE 
SUSPENSION OF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ.

SINCE THEN, WESTERN PATROLS OVER THE NO-FLY ZONES IN IRAQ HAVE 
CLASHED ON VIRTUALLY A DAILY BASIS WITH IRAQI AIR DEFENSES.  

IRAQI NEWSPAPERS THURSDAY REPORTED THE CONFRONTATIONS WILL 
CONTINUE AND THEY CRITICIZED ARAB COUNTRIES FOR REFUSING TO 
CONDEMN THE ATTACKS.

                        /// REST OPT ///

THE OFFICIAL "AL-QADISSIYA" NEWSPAPER CALLED ON THE UNITED 
NATIONS AND ARAB LEAGUE TO ASSUME THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, 
DENOUNCE THE ATTACKS, AND DEMAND AN END TO THE AGGRESSION.

THE "AL-THAWRA" NEWSPAPER OF THE RULING BA'ATH PARTY, UNDER THE 
HEADLINE SAYING "THE BRITISH-AMERICAN AGGRESSION RUMBLES ON," 
ASKED ARAB COUNTRIES HOW THEY CAN ACCEPT THE AGGRESSION THAT IS 
CALLED "INTERNATIONAL MONITORING?"

THE "BABEL" NEWSPAPER, OWNED BY PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN'S SON, 
SAID IT IS A SHAME THE AGGRESSION CONTINUES WITHOUT A MOVE 
(RESPONSE) FROM INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

IRAQI OFFICIALS SAID WEDNESDAY'S STRIKES OCCURRED IN A SUBURB OF 
BAGHDAD OUTSIDE THE SOUTHERN NO-FLY ZONE. U-S OFFICIALS DENIED 
THE CHARGE, SAYING THE STRIKES WERE AGAINST MILITARY 
INSTALLATIONS 50-KILOMETERS OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL.   (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/PCF/RAE

25-Feb-99 8:47 AM EST (1347 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.