DATE=01/22/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-271682

TITLE=U-S / IRAQ (S)

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE= STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The new Bush administration is acting quickly to send a warning to Iraq that military action remains an option if Baghdad threatens its neighbors with new claims to Kuwait or takes other provocative actions. As V-O-A Correspondent Nick Simeone reports, the Iraqi matter is not a new issue to incoming Secretary of State Colin Powell.

TEXT: A senior U-S official says Iraq is a top item on Secretary Powell's agenda. The man who commanded the Gulf War a decade ago wants to invigorate the crumbling sanctions against Saddam Hussein, whom State Department spokesman Richard Boucher says appears to have changed little since President Bush's father led the coalition that drove Iraqi troops out of Kuwait.

/// BOUCHER ACT ///

We have seen the recent statement by the son of Saddam Hussein saying that he thought that Kuwait was part of Iraq and we've seen a variety of other continual indicators to show that Iraq has not changed its intentions.

/// END ACT ///

The United States is concerned Iraq may be rebuilding chemical and biological weapons, and is reminding Iraq of its obligations under international law to allow United Nations weapons inspectors to return. (Signed)

NEB/NJS/JWH