French, US disputes over Iraq
US Defense Secretary William Cohen on Monday continued his tour of the Arab Gulf at a time when disputes have surfaced between the US and France over the policy to be pursued toward Iraq.
Cohen, who met with UAE officials in Abu Dhabi, admitted on Monday the existence of differences between Washington and the French initiative which calls for lifting oil embargo imposed on Iraq.
Cohen also refused the criticism addressed by France to the US and British raids against Iraq. Cohen told journalists in Riyadh about the different views the US hold towards the French initiative announced in January to settle the Iraqi crisis, asserting that continued raids on Iraq are justified "because our forces are threatened."
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah noted no differences with France on the substance concerning the issue of Iraq.
For its part, the UAE welcomed the French proposals, which were also encouraged by Qatar.
An official UAE source renewed his country's opposition to the US strikes against Iraq and to any change in Iraq's government imposed from outside the country. The UAE source added that the UAE does not change in that it stands against striking Iraq and for a diplomatic solution through the UN Security Council. The UAE official asserted that making a change in Iraq can be decided by the Iraqi people themselves, asserting support for Iraq's unity and territorial integrity.
The same stand was also proclaimed and highly asserted by Saudi officials during their talks with Cohen, according to US officials who accompanied Cohen on his tour.
Meanwhile, an Iraqi military spokesman announced on Monday that one person was wounded in northern Iraq during raids launched by US and British planes intercepted by the Iraqi anti-aircraft missiles.
The Iraqi News Agency quoted the Iraqi military spokesman as saying that planes coming from Turkey flew on Monday morning over Ninawa, Irbeel and Dahouk in northern Iraq. The Iraqi spokesman added that "the enemy planes fired ittheirs missiles on several service firms and weapons sites, and the bombardment resulted in wounding one citizen."