
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 14, 1991                   TAG: 9103140296
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The New York Times
DATELINE: OTTAWA                                LENGTH: Medium

BUSH: TRUCE VIOLATED/ ATTACKS ON REBELS PROMPT WARNING

President Bush accused Iraq on Wednesday of violating conditions of the Persian Gulf cease-fire by using helicopter gunships to put down insurrections by anti-government rebels. He said there would be no permanent end to the war until the Iraqi combat operations ceased.

Bush said he was "warning them: do not do this." By raising the issue, Bush further involved himself on the side of the various factions in Iraq battling against forces loyal to President Saddam Hussein.

That means U.S. military forces occupying part of southern Iraq will stay until the rebellion issue and others are resolved.

In Washington, administration officials said the military had been monitoring Iraqi helicopter attacks on rebel positions for days and that such attacks became particularly intense Wednesday, especially against Kurdish forces in the north.

Bush, accusing Iraq of a "violation," was referring to an agreement reached by allied and Iraqi commanders March 3 after a cease-fire was declared.

In that agreement, American officials said Wednesday, Iraq pledged not to use any of its combat aircraft, including helicopters, during the period before a permanent cease-fire was established, after which all allied forces would leave Iraq.

That condition was originally intended to reduce the possibility of conflicts with allied aircraft and to protect allied forces from any air assault by the Iraqis. But Bush clearly expanded the purpose of the requirement Wednesday by applying it to Baghdad's military operations against rebels.

Bush's warning, which came during an Ottawa, Canada, news conference after he met with Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, seemed to toughen significantly the American position toward signing the permanent cease-fire.

It expanded conditions set by the coalition to protect allied forces and disengage the hostile armies to include the struggle for power in Iraq, potentially opening a significant new wedge into Iraqi affairs.

Bush's remarks could have been intended to establish a basis for the United States saying it must have satisfaction on the internal situation in Iraq before it can agree to withdraw its army.

The warning also seemed to widen American efforts to restrict Saddam's freedom to combat the insurrection.

But at the same time, Bush asserted he did not want to destabilize Iraq and leave a "power vacuum" in the region. Although he prefaced his remarks by saying he had no indication Iran intended to do so, he warned Tehran not to try to seize any Iraqi territory during the current unrest.

"That would be the worst thing they could do," he said.

by CNB