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

DATE: SATURDAY, April 13, 1991                   TAG: 9104130032
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NICOSIA, CYPRUS                                LENGTH: Medium

U.S. FAULTED FOR IRAQ'S WOES/ IRAN'S PRESIDENT ASKS IF U.S. TROOPS CAME TO

Iran's president on Friday blamed the United States for the turmoil besetting Iraq, saying Western powers opposed the formation of a popular government in Baghdad because it would jeopardize their interests.

President Hashemi Rafsanjani also said Iranians had shipped food to Iraq after the United Nations imposed a trade embargo in August after the occupation of Kuwait. Iran helped its neighbor "all the way, except in weapons," he said.

According to his comments made available to The Associated Press in Nicosia, Rafsanjani told a large gathering of Muslim worshippers in Tehran that the United States deserves the blame for "what happened and is happening in the region."

"I'm not saying that America has a right to interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq. What I'm saying is that America is responsible," he added.

In Geneva, U.S. Secretary of State James Baker flatly denied any American responsibility for what he called "a tragedy that is almost beyond belief." He blamed Iraq's government.

"The reason there is a problem with hundreds of thousands exposed to a tremendous degree of human suffering, and indeed to loss of life, is because of the brutal and repressive policies of the regime in power," Baker said.

President Saddam Hussein's government is trying to crush uprisings by Shiite Muslims in southern Iraq and Kurdish rebels in the north that broke out after the Feb. 28 cease-fire in the Persian Gulf War.

Hundreds of thousands of Kurdish refugees have swarmed to the borders of Iran and Turkey, where relief officials say many are starving or suffering from disease or exposure.

"Today the Iraqis are suffering," Rafsanjani said. "You [the West] are indirectly responsible. Why did you come to Kuwait? For oil? You have to respond and reply.

"You are happy over the plight of the refugees because you think that if a popular government comes into power, your interests will be in danger," he said, apparently referring to fears voiced by some Western leaders that a victory by the disparate rebel groups could lead to the breakup of Iraq.

by CNB