IRAQ CRISIS EASED

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

DATE: SUNDAY, January 10, 1993                   TAG: 9301100116
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short
IRAQ CRISIS EASED
The White House said Saturday that Iraq had "backed down in the face of coalition solidarity" and moved its surface-to-air missiles out of positions that had threatened U.S. and allied aircraft patrolling a protected zone in southern Iraq.
The action ended the prospect of imminent military retaliation by the United States and its Persian Gulf War allies against the forces of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. But U.S. officials warned that if the missile batteries again menace allied flights, the allies would attack without further notice to Iraq.
A senior official said the statement, which had been discussed with aides to President-elect Clinton, was meant to signal Iraq that despite the short time left in office for President Bush, he remains committed to "seeing Saddam follow the [U.N. cease-fire] resolutions to the letter of the law."
Clinton has supported Bush's handling of the crisis, but aides to the president-elect have said they expect Iraq to test the new U.S. administration as well.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB