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DATE=8/3/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-236460 TITLE=U-S / IRAQ (L) BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS STEPPED UP EFFORTS TO HELP IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS TOPPLE THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. TEXT: WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN P-J CROWLEY SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS WORKING WITH IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS TO TRY TO BRING ABOUT A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD. // CROWLEY ACTUALITY // WE HAVE FOR SOME TIME BEEN WORKING WITH THE IRAQI OPPOSITION TRYING TO DEVELOP WAYS TO MAKE THAT OPPOSITION MORE EFFECTIVE. AS WE HAVE SAID MANY TIMES WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A NEW GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD. RIGHT NOW WE ARE AIMED AT SEEING HOW WE CAN MOST EFFECTIVELY USE THE RESOURCES THAT CONGRESS HAD PROVIDED FOR WORKING WITH THE IRAQI OPPOSITION. // END ACT // HIS COMMENTS COME A DAY AFTER THE WASHINGTON POST NEWSPAPER REPORTED THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SENT CONGRESS A REPORT CALLING FOR A FIVE-MILLION DOLLAR EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE IRAQI OPPOSTION AND OUST SADDAM HUSSEIN. THAT IS IN ADDITION TO FIVE MILLION DOLLARS APPROVED BY CONGRESS TO ESTABLISH THE PRAGUE-BASED RADIO FREE IRAQ THAT WILL BROADCAST ARABIC PROGRAMMING INTO THE COUNTRY. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THE PLAN IS AIMED AT PROMOTING THE RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC PLURALISM OF IRAQ, ALTHOUGH SPOKESMAN CROWLEY SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS NOT INTENT ON SPLINTERING THE COUNTRY. // CROWLEY ACTUALITY // WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN THE SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTERGRITY OF IRAQ. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IRAQ SHOULD BE DISMEMBERED. // END ACT // THE U-S PLAN TO SHORE UP THE IRAQI OPPOSITION HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR MONTHS. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS INVITED RIVAL KURDISH OPPOSITION LEADERS TO VISIT WASHINGTON LATER THIS YEAR. (SIGNED) NEB/DAT/PT 03-Aug-98 6:26 PM EDT (2226 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .