DATE=11/1/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQI OPPOSITION WRAP (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255710
BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  The United States has pledged support for an 
increasingly united coalition of groups opposed to 
Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.  The coalition -- called 
the Iraqi National Congress -- ended a four-day 
meeting (Monday) in New York.  Correspondent Barbara 
Schoetzau reports. 


TEXT:  More than 300 delegates at a meeting organized 
by the Iraqi National Congress debated ways to 
overthrow Saddam Hussein and how to rebuild Iraq 
afterwards. But the overarching objective of the 
meeting was to unite a broad range of separate and 
often fractious opposition groups into a strong, 
streamlined force. 

Sharif Ali Bin Al Hussein of the Constitutional 
Monarchy Movement is one the seven-person team elected 
to lead the newly expanded Iraqi National Congress. He 
says the meeting succeeded beyond expectations, 
creating a sense of community and unity within the 
opposition.

            /// HUSSEIN ACT ///
 
      The opposition is a work in progress. This is 
      one step in many and we shall continue the 
      dialog to bring as many elements of Iraqi 
      communities both inside and outside of Iraq into 
      this umbrella. I think we have put the lie to 
      the supposition that the Iraqi opposition cannot 
      be united. I think many people thought this 
      conference would collapse and be in disarray. We 
      are here today to show you that the Iraqi 
      opposition, the Iraqi people, are united and 
      that they are working together and will continue 
      to work together to fight the regime.  

            /// END ACT ///

The United States has offered to help the Iraqi 
National Congress by providing military training and 
office equipment. 

U-S Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs 
Thomas Pickering told the closing session of the 
conference the United States is ready to provide the 
first five million dollars worth of aid to the Iraqi 
people through the Iraqi National Congress.

            /// PICKERING ACT ///

      We are beginning immediately with the kinds of 
      support that your movement most urgently needs 
      and can now most readily absorb. That is, we are 
      offering the basic information and operational 
      infrastructure essential to an effective 
      international political movement, whose main 
      weapon against the oppressor must be the truth.
      
            /// END ACT ///  

Further U-S assistance, including weapons, has not 
been ruled out. But Clinton Administration officials 
say the opposition groups must first show they can act 
in unity toward the common goal of overthrowing Saddam 
Hussein.  

            /// REST OPT ///

Another member of the coalition's new leadership team, 
Ahmed Chalabi, says the opposition group will work 
with the United States in a series of careful steps to 
prepare for a move against Saddam Hussein.

            /// CHALABI ACT ///

      The point here is that we do not want to get a 
      bunch of guns and go blazing into the sunshine. 
      The point is that we need to work carefully to 
      prepare ourselves and our forces to make 
      effective use of U-S assistance. May I say this 
      also? Military assistance is not about guns 
      only. Guns are the final phase. Other things are 
      more important as this stage. And that is what 
      we need.

            /// END ACT ///

A spokesperson for the Iraqi National Congress says 
the opposition welcomes outside help but stresses that 
any change in Iraq will come from the Iraqi people. 
(Signed)

NEB/BJS/LSF/TVM/gm



01-Nov-1999 16:00 PM EDT (01-Nov-1999 2100 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.