DATE=02/17/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=WORLD REAX/IRAQ (L-O)

NUMBER=2-272713

BYLINE=TOM RIVERS

DATELINE=LONDON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// Re-running w/clarification in Mr. Cook's act ///

INTRO: The intention of U-S and British air strikes against command sites around Baghdad may have been to send a clear message to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. But, as Tom Rivers reports from London, that message has received a mixed response from around the world.

TEXT: As far as Britain is concerned, nothing has changed in the ten years since the end of the Gulf War. Tony Blair's government says it will take more action if Iraq continues to shoot at British planes enforcing the no-fly zones.

British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook says, on balance, the protracted no-fly zone policy has been effective.

/// COOK ACT ///

We have been unable to prevent Saddam carrying out repression on the ground. And he has used his power on the ground to repress the Shi'ite population and the Marsh Arabs (EDS: The Arabs who live in the lowland areas of southern part of Iraq). But we have been able to stop him increasing the bloodshed by bombing them from the air. That is the reason why the no-fly zone's in place. But we cannot ask British pilots to patrol the no-fly zones and not act when we see Saddam Hussein preparing to shoot them down.

/// END ACT ///

But the view elsewhere in Europe is very different. In Italy, the left-leaning daily "La Repubblica" called the attack a "blood baptism for George W. Bush."

France says Washington has some explaining to do. Paris maintains that continued air assaults simply hinder efforts to resolve the Iraqi problem.

In Turkey, where most of the planes patrolling the northern no-fly zone are based, there was muted criticism. The Turkish foreign minister says of the air strikes near Baghdad: "We don't want such strikes repeated."

Russia and China were quick to condemn the strikes. Beijing has called on the United States and Britain to stop military action immediately in order to create a favorable atmosphere for talks between Iraq and the U-N secretary general scheduled for later this month.

Critics around the world have long maintained that the decade of bombing has been counter-productive. They say it simply serves to strengthen Saddam's regime, while hurting ordinary Iraqis. (signed)

NEB/TR/DW/TDW/PT