IRANIAN-BACKED IRAQIS REJECT U.S. SUPPORT. U.S. officials say
that they are trying to establish links with the Tehran-based Supreme
Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and other
opponents of the Baghdad regime, in addition to the Iraqi National
Congress (INC), with which it already has relations, Reuters reported
on 23 March. Also, "informed sources" in Washington said that efforts
were under way to arrange a meeting between Secretary of State Colin
Powell and SCIRI chairman Ayatollah Baqir al-Hakim, "Al-Hayat"
reported on 4 March. The Clinton administration was wary of dealing
with the SCIRI due to its Iranian link, but Washington is reassessing
its Iraq policy.
According to reports in London's Saudi-owned "Al-Hayat" on 22
March and the independent Arab nationalist "Al-Qods al-Arabi" on 21
March, however, such efforts have been unsuccessful so far. INC
leader Ahmad Chalabi met with an SCIRI delegation in Tehran recently,
but the SCIRI rejected U.S. initiatives for a dialog and rejected a
plan to set up a "safe pocket" for the opposition in southern Iraq.
And the Iranian government refused to let the INC open an office in
Tehran. "A leading Iraqi opposition source" said conservatives in the
Iranian government were behind these decisions, because they would
serve as "cover for U.S. security services" and could also lead to
regional instability. Tehran also called for the removal of all U.S.
forces from the Persian Gulf region. (Bill Samii)
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