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How Iraq, US Pullback from Brink Humanitarian, Arms Staff Return to Iraq LONDON (Reuters) -- Iraq and the United States pulled back from the brink of conflict at the very last moment. Here is the final countdown to the punitive bombing campaign and how it was averted. Friday, November 13 - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan makes a last-ditch appeal to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to rescind his decision not to cooperate with U.N. arms inspectors. U.S. President Bill Clinton orders military to go ahead with bombing campaign. Saturday, November 14 - Strike planes aboard U.S. S.Eisenhower are an hour away from being catapulted off the deck, bound for Iraqi targets, when Clinton postpones attack for 24 hours. He calls for the "pause" at about 1300 GMT. Iraq gives U.N. Security Council a two-page letter offering to allow U.N. inspectors to resume work, along with a two-page annex that Washington regards as setting unacceptable conditions. U.S. National Security Adviser Sandy Berger publicly rejects Iraqi offer shortly after 2000 GMT. Sunday, November 15 - At 0020 GMT White House receives second Iraqi letter to Security Council saying offer to resume cooperation is unequivocal. Clinton speaks by telephone to top security advisers as well as French President Jacques Chirac and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Just after 0800 GMT Clinton calls off second strike after deciding to accept Iraq's offer. U.S. attack aircraft with engines running remain on carrier flight deck during Clinton speech, shown live on television and watched by waiting aircrews. Clinton says the United States remains ready to act militarily pending full Iraqi compliance with U.N. resolutions. He calls for new government in Baghdad "committed to peace" and says Washington will intensify efforts to achieve that aim. The United States halts build-up of troops and equipment in the Gulf. Monday, November 16 - A U.N. official says the first group of 84 weapons inspectors to return to Iraq will fly to Baghdad on Tuesday. Iraqi newspapers voice anger at Clinton's call for a change of government in Baghdad, calling it high-handed and provocative. 16.11.98 R..A. Copyrights ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To be removed/added, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk, NOT the whole list. Archived at http://linux.clare.cam.ac.uk/~saw27/casi/discuss.html