News

DATE=12/17/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243177 TITLE=RUSSIA/IRAQ -2ND UPDATE (S) BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN DATELINE=MOSCOW CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IN A RARE SHOW OF UNITY, RUSSIA'S POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE SHARPLY CONDEMNED AIR STRIKES ON IRAQ. VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW. TEXT: IT WAS A DAY OF ANGER AND FRUSTRATION AT THE FAILURE OF DIPLOMACY TO PREVENT MILITARY ACTION AGAINST ONE OF MOSCOW'S TRADITIONAL ALLIES. PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SET THE TONE. IN A STATEMENT, HE EXPRESSED DISMAY AND CALLED THE ATTACKS A "FLAGRANT VIOLATION" OF THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER. PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV TOLD REPORTERS HE WAS OUTRAGED THE AIR STRIKES CAME JUST AS THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL WAS DISCUSSING IRAQ. THE DUMA, OR LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED A RESOLUTION CALLING THE ATTACKS A BARBARIC ACT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. LAWMAKERS SAY THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST IRAQ HAS RUINED HOPES THE DUMA MIGHT SOON RATIFY THE "START-TWO" ARMS REDUCTION TREATY. IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, SMALL GROUPS OF DEMONSTRATORS SHOWED UP OUTSIDE THE U-S EMBASSY IN MOSCOW TO VOICE SUPPORT FOR IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN AND SHOUT ANTI-AMERICAN SLOGANS. (SIGNED) NEB/PFH/PCF 17-Dec-98 12:34 PM EST (1734 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .