Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 23, 1991 TAG: 9102230255
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Iraq called the Bush ultimatum "shameful" and gave no indication President Saddam Hussein would comply.
The Soviet Union, playing its new role of middleman between Saddam and Bush, announced in Moscow that Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz had agreed at the Kremlin to another new plan for peace, this one with six points. The Soviets said the plan was awaiting final approval by Saddam.
The new Soviet-Iraqi proposal would commit Saddam to "an immediate and unconditional withdrawal" starting one day after a cease-fire. Instead of Bush's seven days, it would give Iraq three weeks to complete the pullout. The plan calls for an agreement to lift all U.N. resolutions against Iraq when the pullout is finished.
Bush did not comment on the latest counterproposal before leaving with Secretary of State James Baker for Camp David, Md., for the weekend. His spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said later: "If they can meet the Russian plan, they can meet the coalition plan. Our plan is the marker to meet. It [the counterproposal] doesn't quite meet our conditions.
"It's a hard and fast date. Noon tomorrow. It's an ultimatum."
Bush's deadline met with strong approval from key Western and Arab allies in the anti-Iraq coalition, including France, Germany, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
French Foreign Minister Roland Dumas said the Bush ultimatum was a result of consultation among the allies. British Prime Minister John Major declared: "Iraq now knows precisely what it has to do."
Saudi and Kuwaiti officials expressed relief. They had feared Iraq would drag out the war and ultimately remain a threat.
by CNB