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

DATE: TUESDAY, June 29, 1993                   TAG: 9306290127
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IRAQ VOWS TO AVENGE BOMBING

Iraq vowed Monday to avenge a U.S. missile attack on Baghdad, while Washington cautioned it would respond in kind, fueling fears the turbulent region was headed for a new round of military clashes.

For Saddam Hussein's regime, the attack on its intelligence headquarters before dawn Sunday ended any hope of improved relations with the U.S. administration under President Clinton.

But it could prop up Saddam's popularity, which has sagged due to economic problems caused by U.N. trade sanctions. Crowds of Iraqis took to the streets to denounce Clinton, not the Iraqi leader whose invasion of Kuwait three years ago led to a devastating war and international isolation.

The attack also could hurt U.S. standing in the Muslim world. Islamic nations, including countries that stood with Washington during the war, questioned Washington for punishing Iraq while the West has done little to help outgunned Bosnian Muslims in their fight against Serb aggression.

Iraq lodged a formal protest with the U.N. Security Council on Monday accusing the United States of "state terrorism and blackmail."

U.N. silence about "crimes" committed by the United States against Iraq "has encouraged the belligerent U.S. regime to persist in this course of action and seek to secure world hegemony by means of armed force, state terrorism and blackmail," Iraq's letter said.

Iraq says eight people were killed when some of the 23 Tomahawk missiles fired by the U.S. Navy hit residential areas near the intelligence compound.

The state-run Iraqi News Agency quoted Iraq's intelligence chief, Gen. Saber Abdul-Aziz al-Douri, as telling Saddam he would not allow the attack to go unpunished.

"The aggressors returned to their evil and blind hatred," the agency quoted al-Douri as saying. "Cursed be what they are doing. We will pursue anyone who dares to attack our dear Iraq and severely punish these evil insects."

In Washington, Vice President Al Gore warned that the United States was ready to hit again.

"It would be unwise for Saddam to retaliate in any capacity because that would receive a response," Gore said.

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt headed for the Red Sea to bolster U.S. military forces in the region. Egyptian officials said the carrier would sail from the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal early today.

by CNB