Iraqi opposition delegation prepares for meeting with Albright, Berger

A leader of the Iraqi opposition said on Tuesday that a delegation representing the Iraqi opposition will head for Washington next Monday in order to ask for US military protection in the framework of efforts to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Leader of the "Iraqi National Accord Movement," Eyad Allawi, said the provisional presidency of the executive council of the "national congress" is planning for an armed "uprising" that will be conducive to toppling Saddam Hussein.

Allawi did not explain when the operation would start, but he indicated that such an "uprising" will follow a meeting of the opposition organizations to be held in July in the Kurdistan area of Iraq.

He added that the rebellion will start from the region which falls under the Kurds in Kurdistan.

Allawi told the AP in a telephone call from London, "We will tell the Americans that Iraqi Kurdistan should be converted into a secure haven for the opposition Iraqi organizations in confrontation of Saddam's attacks."

He added that the "protection request" will be submitted to US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and the advisor of the US President for national security, Sandy Berger, the two US officials with whom the Iraqi opposition will meet in Washington.

He stated that the delegation will ask the US administration to ensure "full protection" for a plenary meeting the opposition intends to convene in the Kurdish area.

Last year, the US congress ratified "the law for liberating Iraq," according to which Washington was authorized to provide weapons to opposition organizations at a value of US $97 million.

Allawi said that opposition members who are active inside Iraq have recently escalated their attacks against the Iraqi government and members of the ruling Baath Party. On Saturday, Baghdad admitted that violations took place in Basra two months ago and accused the revolutionary guards in Iran of being involved in it.