Iraq vows to punish US for attack

Iraq vows to punish US for attack
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

BAGHDAD, FEB 17: Iraq's official newspapers vowed today that Baghdad would avenge the US and British air strikes around the capital that left one dead and 11 injured.

"This new crime will not go without dissuasive punishment for the American aggressors", warned the armed forces' newspaper Al-Qadissiya.

It said Baghdad was determined to teach US President George W Bush, "son of the viper (former president) George Bush, a lesson which he will never forget."

By ordering the raids, the US leader, whose father was in office during the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait, had "shown his hatred for Iraq and its historic leadership," the paper charged.

Another official daily Al-Jumhuriya said "The latest aggression on Baghdad was a continuation of the attacks on our people and towns in northern and southern Iraq", referring to exclusion zones enforced by US and British warplanes.

It amounted to "a new failure for the tyrants of criminal America with its new administration and vile mentality," the paper said.

One woman died and 11 civilians were wounded in the strikes on the suburbs of Baghdad, the first since December 1998, that Washington said knocked out air control and command centres.

Al-Jumhuriya said the attack would "not cover up the stinging failure of the United States in the face of an Iraqi people who are convinced of final victory over America and Zionism."

Regional power Iran led Middle East condemnation today of the US bombing of Baghdad as "signs of adventurism" by the new US president, but Gulf states maintained an embarrassed silence.

But the Cairo-based Arab League also weighed in, with its chief saying the attack had "no justification."

Esmat Abdel Meguid warned that the raids violated international law and had provoked "angry sentiments and discontent in the Arab world."

He also called for the United Nations to take actions to protect Iraq's sovereignty.

In Jordan, which depends on Iraqi oil, the first air strikes around the capital in two years were seen as a clear message of strength from the Bush administration to every country in the region.

And in Lebanon, leading pro-Syrian daily As-Safir accused the US President of "trying to torpedo any attempt at appeasement and proving he is his father's son by brandishing war."

"The air strikes against Iraq cover the coming ofanother war, which will take place with the arrival in power of Ariel Sharon (in Israel)," said the influential newspaper.

Syria and Russia consider the strikes "will not produce positive results," said Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy to the Middle East after talks in Damascus.

Envoy Alexandr Saltanov, who met Foreign Minister Rual-Shara, said: "It is necessary to reach a political solution and the first step in this direction is the dialogue," between Iraq and UN due to resume this month-end.

However, neither Saudi Arabia nor Kuwait answered Baghdad's taunts they were "accomplices in crime" for allowing US and British warplanes to fly from their countries.

Arab world heavyweight Cairo had also yet to react.

Riyadh and Kuwait City, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of liberation from Iraqi occupation on February 26, are due to receive visits next week by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The US military supremo during the 1991 Gulf War is expected to discuss the hard line adopted by the new administration on Iraq, whose people enjoy growing popular Arab support after a decade of sanctions.

And the other Gulf monarchies that rely largely on US might for their security - Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates - made no comments.