DATE=02/21/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-272849

TITLE=IRAQ / U-N / RAID (L ONLY)

BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Iraq's foreign minister has left Baghdad for New York City for talks with U-N officials next week about the sanctions on Iraqi. V-O-A Middle East Correspondent Scott Bobb reports the talks are going ahead despite an air raid by U-S and British planes near Baghdad last Friday that has further polarized international opinion on Iraq and the sanctions.

TEXT: Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf told reporters before leaving Baghdad (Wednesday) that he intends to meet with U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan next Monday. He said he will give Mr. Annan details about what he called the unjustified aggression against Iraq.

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The Iraqi foreign minister said he is attending the talks to maintain the dialogue despite what he called the United Nations' lack of condemnation of the raids last Friday, in which Iraq says two civilians were killed and 20 wounded.

U-S and British officials say the raids were against Iraqi air defenses, which were increasingly threatening the safety of their planes and pilots. And they said they would strike again if necessary.

The attacks brought virtually unanimous condemnation from Arab governments, as well as from the Arab League and the Islamic Conference. It also drew criticism from numerous European nations and three permanent members of the U-N Security Council - China, Russia, and France.

The two days of meetings at U-N headquarters are the first since Iraq suspended cooperation with U-N weapons inspections two years ago, after three nights of intense bombings by U-S and British war planes. The attacks were staged after U-N weapons monitors reported Iraq is not complying with U-N resolutions aimed at eliminating its weapons of mass destruction.

Last year, the U-N Security Council passed a resolution offering to suspend economic sanctions against Iraq in return for a resumption of the weapons inspection program. Iraq says it has fulfilled U-N requirements and is calling for an immediate end to the sanctions.

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International support for the sanctions has eroded in recent months. As a result, allied leaders are reportedly discussing scrapping the broad restrictions on imports and commercial ties in favor of stricter sanctions on specific military equipment. However, Iraq maintains its call for an unconditional end to all sanctions. And Foreign Minister al-Shahaf called next week's talks the first round of a long process. (Signed)

NEB/SB/KL/JWH