Al-Hayat: Al-Yasiri and the coupe against Saddam Hussein
Iraq, Politics, 12/2/2002

The spokesman for the Iraqi military opposition council Maj. Gen. Tawfiq al-Yasiri has stated that the option of a coupe is the best outlet for the Americans and for the Iraqis.

In a statement to the London-based al-Hayat daily issued yesterday, al-Yasiri added that he had felt in the Administration of the US President George Bush a will to support a "coupe" in Baghdad, expecting it to be a "Sunni coupe," and he did not rule out an American invasion.

He expressed his conviction that confrontation is nearby, and might be within 8 weeks or more. He added that the military council will dispatch messages to Arab states including Syria, because of its importance, and is aspiring to create centers for field movements at the borders of these countries including the Syrian borders.

He said that the council tried to open channels with Russia and Kuwait but the two countries have not responded yet. He indicated that the Iraqi regime places itself in the "killing corner," and gives America and its allies the justification to send forces to Iraq. He also ruled out that the Americans are having now any presence in this country and doubted information speaking of an Israeli invasion of the West Iraq desert.

Al-Yasiri said that he had informed the Americans during his visit for Washington that the Iraqis will receive them happily, may be for a period of one month, and then new problems will arise including acts of revenge and liquidation and attacks against the American forces might follow.

He stressed that Washington did not give to the Iraqi council any promises. He expressed his conviction that President Saddam Hussein will not resign and will not leave the country if the US will invade Iraq, adding that the President's son, Qusai is strongly in control of matters in Iraq.

Al-Yasiri spoke of liaison channels with the military establishment inside Iraq in order to prepare the ground for the phase of the change. He said that the number of split army officers who joined the military council is 318 officers, while the number of centers opened by the council tolled 11, with many of them in the liberated areas and al-Ahwar area to the south, as well as centers in neighboring countries and in the USA and Lebanon.

He noted the council's desire to build a positive relation with Damascus, stressing he will ask for Syria's support and is keen to found a leadership center on the Iraqi- Syrian borders. He denied coordination with Iran.

He unveiled that a delegation representing the council visited Tehran and met with the leader of the Higher Council f the Islamic Revolution Muhammad Baqer Hakim and the opposition forces which are stationed in Tehran.

He explained that the council did not receive an invitation to take part in the forthcoming plenary conference of the Iraqi opposition to be held in London.

Previous Stories:
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  Washington seeks to train 5,000 Iraqi opposition in Hungary   (11/28/2002)
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