950820

Iraq in no

position to

invade Jordan,

Kuwait

SIKANDER HAYAT

ISLAMABAD: Iraq is not in position to invade its neighbours including Jordan and Kuwait, a senior Kuwaiti official said here on Sunday. He however, cautioned that Baghdad's military moves must be taken by the interantional community seriously.

Addressing a news conference Shaikh Salim Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah, who, presently, heads the committee on POWs and missing Iraqis and was formerly interior minister, maintained that whatever strength President Saddam is left with, he "will use to strengthen his own position."

The Kuwaiti official was skeptic about the authenticity of defections by President Saddam's family members, calling the defecting Gen Kamil Hussain as the "mastermind behind all the tyranny of the regime." "Kamil's hands are stained with the blood of the opposition, that is why the Iraqi opposition is unanimous in rejecting him."

Sabah said Kuwait is for replacement of President Saddam by a democratic system but it is very much for the territorial integrity and independence of Iraq and the continued welfare of Iraqis whom he described "as our neighbours, Muslims and Rabs".

Sabah who is accompanied by a delegation comprising some close relations of the POWs allegedly held by Baghdad on Sunday also met with Foreign Minister Aseff Ahmad Ali and called on President Farooq Leghari. "We seek the assistance and other countries in getting the Kuwaiti POWs released," he added.

He said, at present, 625 Kuwaitis are being held captive by the Iraqis or they are missing consequent to the invastion of Kuwait by Iraq in 1990. Out of these POWs eight are women. This list was handed over to the International Red Cross in 1993.