Iraqi Kurds build factories, new roads

UK's Hoon says Iraq threats up in no-fly zones 
Reuters
June 5, 2002

Iraq has become more aggressive in threatening U.S. and British military jets patrolling no-fly zones and that may require a response from the allied forces, British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said on Wednesday.

"There is no doubt that the threat to those forces has been increasing in recent times and we have to ensure that we can take appropriate action to deal with that threat, Hoon said in London after talks with U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"...Certainly we both believe that Iraq will be a much better place, not only for the region and for its own people if (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein was no longer in power in Baghdad," he said.

Hoon later told reporters travelling with Rumsfeld that he was specifically referring to action related to Western-imposed no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq and not to any broader military action.

Speculation has been rife that the United States, which accuses Saddam of backing terrorism and wants him out of power, may consider military strikes against Baghdad.

"We have not taken any decisions on military action other than...the very significant action that we're engaged in together patrolling the no-fly zone," Hoon said en route to Brussels with Rumsfeld for NATO meetings.

"Immediately after September 11th there was quite a fall-off in the incidents over the no-fly zones...the regime in Iraq seemed to have got the message that military action would follow if they were not very, very careful," Hoon said.

"In more recent times there has been an increase in the number of attacks on aircraft," he said. "Clearly they are feeling a little more confident than they have in the recent past and that's obviously a concern for our people."

The no-fly zones were set up after the 1991 Gulf War to protect areas occupied by Kurds and the Shi'ite Muslim population from what the allies describe as military threats from Baghdad.

Rumsfeld said earlier in London -- the first stop on a trip to Europe, the Gulf, India and Pakistan -- it was clear that Iraq was working on developing weapons of mass destruction.

"We know the borders into that country are quite porous and we know dual-use capabilities have been flowing in as well as illicit materials that are helpful in their programs for weapons of mass destruction," Rumsfeld said.

Unless Iraq allows U.N. weapons inspectors to return to monitor their programs freely, "we can only be deeply suspicious as to what is happening there," Hoon said.
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