Iraqi opposition postpones meeting again; Iraqi army fortifies Karkouk; successful meeting betewen al-Hakim, al-Jalabi
Iraq-Iran, Politics, 1/27/2003

Once again the Iraqi opposition conference was postponed until the mid of February, as opposition factions held a coordination meeting in al-Suleimaneyah where discussions centered on the role it may play during any American attack.

Meantime reports indicated Iraqi military preparations to strengthen fortifications in the city of Karkouk.

Kurdish sources in Tehran said that the opposition postponed until mid February its meeting because of problems pertinent to security and visas. A high ranking official at the Kurdistani National Federation said it is more expectedly now the meeting will convene on February 15 near Irbeil.

Just recently several opposition members met in Tehran in an attempt to coordinate for the Irbeil meeting. Among those who met in Tehran was the chairman of the Iraqi National Congress Ahmad al-Jalabi, the chairman of the higher council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq Muhammad Baqer al-Hakim.

The official at the Higher Council, Mohsin al-Hakim, said "I can say that this meeting with al-Jalabi and other of members of the liberal camp of the opposition groups was among the most successful meetings held by Ayatullah Hakim." He added that the meeting reflected the unity in the lines of the opposition and was successful in analyzing strategies that can be used by the Iraqi President to crush any Intifada in case of any attack led by the USA.

Meanwhile, the committee in charge of coordinating the opposition forces in al-Suleimaneyah which is composed of the Islamic Call Conference, the Communist Party and the Naserite Socialist Vanguards Party, and the Islamic Revolution Higher Council, have met in order to discuss the developments of the Iraqi issue.

In a statement, the participants said the meeting has basically concentrated on the likely American attack against Iraq, the position of the Iraqi opposition towards it and the role the committee can play.

However, a military official at the Kurdstani National Federation said that Iraq has reinforced its defense lines to protect the oil- rich Karkouk city in case war erupts.

A military official at the Kurdistani National Federation said that the Iraqi army increased the number of its troops and summoned more tanks and started to dig trenches around Karkouk in order to halt any likely approach for the American forces and the Kurdish fighters towards the city.

Karkouk fell into the hands of the Kurdish fighters in the Gulf war in 1991.

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