Clinton instructs helping for Iraqi opposition
Iraq-USA, Politics, 10/22/1999

In a message, US President Bill Clinton told the foreign relations committee at the US Congress of his decision to transfer US $5 million to the seven Iraqi opposition groups which were elected within the "Iraqi liberation law" issued at the end of 1998.

The US President announced that he is exercising his authority to provide the opposition with defensive weapons from the Pentagon's arsenal, training equipment and communications.

The message, which was addressed to Jessie Helms, the chairman of the foreign relations committee at the Congress, that US $3 million will be allotted for military training and US $2 million for technical equipment (not for fighting), as well as services for the headquarters of the Iraqi national conference in London, including a telecommunications base.

This step comes just few days before the meeting of the Iraqi opposition to be hosted by the US, out of which the US hopes to give a new impetus to the Iraqi opposition, following a phase of stalemate.

Meanwhile, the preliminary negotiations between the Iraqi National Congress and the "intermediate trend" has reached an agreement on the content of the political and organizational program of the coming phase, besides the detailed preparations and the list of the invitees to new York meeting due to be held on October 29, a situation which will open the way before a new phase for the Iraqi opposition.

Previous Stories:
  Cohen: US will continue efforts to contain Iraq   (10/19/1999)
  US senator calls for backing Iraqi resistance   (10/7/1999)
  Albright meets with Russia's Ivanov, Iraqi opposition   (9/22/1999)

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