DATE=8/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236460
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS STEPPED UP EFFORTS TO HELP
IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS TOPPLE THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQI LEADER 
SADDAM HUSSEIN.  V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT:   WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN P-J CROWLEY SAYS THE UNITED STATES 
IS WORKING WITH IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS TO TRY TO BRING ABOUT A 
CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD.  

                         // CROWLEY ACTUALITY //

         WE HAVE FOR SOME TIME BEEN WORKING WITH THE IRAQI 
         OPPOSITION TRYING  TO DEVELOP WAYS TO MAKE THAT 
         OPPOSITION MORE EFFECTIVE.  AS WE HAVE  SAID MANY TIMES 
         WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A NEW GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD.  
         RIGHT NOW WE ARE AIMED AT SEEING HOW WE CAN MOST 
         EFFECTIVELY USE THE RESOURCES THAT CONGRESS HAD PROVIDED
         FOR WORKING WITH THE IRAQI OPPOSITION.     

                              // END ACT //

HIS COMMENTS COME A DAY AFTER THE WASHINGTON POST NEWSPAPER 
REPORTED  THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SENT CONGRESS A REPORT CALLING 
FOR A  FIVE-MILLION DOLLAR EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE IRAQI OPPOSTION 
AND OUST SADDAM HUSSEIN.                

THAT IS IN ADDITION TO FIVE MILLION DOLLARS APPROVED BY CONGRESS 
TO ESTABLISH THE PRAGUE-BASED RADIO FREE IRAQ THAT WILL BROADCAST
ARABIC PROGRAMMING INTO THE COUNTRY.                    

THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THE PLAN IS AIMED AT PROMOTING THE RELIGIOUS 
AND ETHNIC PLURALISM OF IRAQ, ALTHOUGH SPOKESMAN CROWLEY SAYS THE
UNITED STATES IS NOT INTENT ON SPLINTERING THE COUNTRY.

                         // CROWLEY ACTUALITY //

         WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN THE SOVEREIGNTY AND 
         TERRITORIAL INTERGRITY OF IRAQ.  WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT 
         IRAQ SHOULD BE DISMEMBERED.

                              // END ACT //

THE U-S PLAN TO SHORE UP THE IRAQI OPPOSITION HAS BEEN IN THE 
WORKS FOR MONTHS.   

THE ADMINISTRATION HAS INVITED RIVAL KURDISH OPPOSITION LEADERS 
TO VISIT WASHINGTON LATER THIS YEAR.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/PT


03-Aug-98 6:26 PM EDT (2226 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.