DATE=4/9/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247845
TITLE=IRAQI OPPOSITION (L-O)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   ELEVEN IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS OF THE I-N-C -- THE 
"IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS" -- MET THIS WEEK OUTSIDE LONDON TO 
OUTLINE STRATEGIES FOR REVAMPING THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION AND 
COORDINATING EFFORTS TO OUST SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM IRAQ. V-O-A 
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT:   THE MEETING WAS THE FIRST IN THREE YEARS FOR THE I-N-C 
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.  THE MEMBERS DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO REVAMP THE
ORGANIZATION AND GIVE IT WHAT ONE IRAQI PARTICIPANT CALLED A 
FRESH START. 

THE GROUP ELECTED A NEW SEVEN-MEMBER EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND AGREED
TO ORGANIZE A GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS WITHIN 
THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. 

LATIF RASHID OF THE "PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN" SAYS THE I-N-C
IS TRYING TO SMOOTH-OVER INTERNAL DISPUTES AND BETTER COORDINATE 
THEIR EFFORTS TO FIGHT FOR A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD. 

                       /// RASHID ACT ///

         ONE OR TWO GROUPS HAVE NOT ATTENDED. WE HOPE THAT WE CAN
         APPROACH THEM AND EXPLAIN THE SITUATION AND HOPE THEY 
         WILL JOIN US AND STRENGTHEN THE OPPOSITION PLATFORM.

                         /// END ACT ///

SHERIF ALI OF THE MONARCHY MOVEMENT WAS NOT AT THE MEETING. HIS 
GROUP IS NOT PART OF THE I-N-C UMBRELLA GROUP. BUT HE SAYS THE 
MEETING SIGNALED A POSITIVE STEP FOR THE IRAQI OPPOSITION.

                         /// ALI ACT ///

         IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT THE I-N-C IS COMING ON BOARD WITH 
         THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO BROADEN THE OPPOSITION AND GET 
         AS MANY AS POSSIBLE INVOLVED. THOSE WHO WEREN'T IN THE 
         I-N-C AND THOSE OUTSIDE AND THOSE WHO HAVEN'T REALLY 
         COOPERATED WITH THE OTHERS YET.  SO I SEE THIS AS A 
         GENERAL PROCESS OF BRINGING THE OPPOSITION TOGETHER -- 
         SO I SEE THIS AS A GOOD STEP FORWARD.

                        /// END ACT /// 

A U-S OFFICIAL SAYS IRAQI EXILES ARE ALSO STARTING TO THINK ABOUT
NEW POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STRUCTURES FOR IRAQ AS WELL.  
A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP IN BAGHDAD, HE SAYS, IS NOT THE END BUT 
JUST THE BEGINNING. 

U-S SENATOR BOB KERREY FROM THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS 
COMMITTEE AND FRANK RICCIARDONE, THE NEWLY APPOINTED U-S LIAISON 
TO THE IRAQI OPPOSITION, ALSO ATTENDED THE TWO-DAY MEETING.  THE 
U-S CONGRESS LAST YEAR APPROVED NEARLY 100-MILLION DOLLARS OF 
ASSISTANCE FOR THE IRAQI OPPOSITION.  SOME IRAQI EXILES WHO 
STAYED AWAY FROM THE I-N-C MEETING HAVE SHUNNED ANY DIRECT LINKS 
TO THE U-S GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)

NEB/LMK/PCF

09-Apr-99 12:24 PM EDT (1624 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.