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A new Amnesty International Urgent Action case has been issued relating to ongoing USA/UK strikes on Iraq. [The reason that this case, issued in the UK, doesn't ask you to write to Tony Blair is because Amnesty never asks their supporters to write to their own government on 'Urgent Action' cases.] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- +------------------------------------------------------+ + Paper reprints authorised. Electronic redistributors + + must request permission from Amnesty International. + + Contact: ua@amnesty.org.uk + +------------------------------------------------------+ PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 51/31/99 18 February 1999 Further information on EXTRA 101/98 (AMR 51/110/98, 16 December 1998) and follow-ups (AMR 51/112/98, 17 December 1998, AMR 51/114/98, 18 December 1998, AMR 51/117/98, 23 December 1998) - Fear of indiscriminate mass killing of civilians in Iraq USA/UK/IRAQ Since the end of Operation Desert Fox in December 1998, US, UK and Iraqi forces have been engaged in regular conflict caused by the imposition of air exclusion zones in northern and southern Iraq. Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of civilians in these areas, where US and UK attacks have killed or injured a number of civilians. On 25 January 1999 two missiles launched by US forces landed in residential areas in southern Iraq, in the al-Jumhuria district of the city of Basra and in the village of Abu Khasib, reportedly killing 17 civilians, including 10 children, and injuring 100 others. Forty-five houses were said to have been destroyed or damaged. These reports have been confirmed by UN humanitarian workers. Iraqi government sources claim that up to 11 people, including civilians, were killed, and many others injured, following air strikes by US and UK forces in northern and southern Iraq between 10 and 15 February 1999. Background Information In 1991 two air exclusion zones were imposed on Iraq, north of the 36th parallel and south of the 32nd parallel, enforced by US, UK and French forces. They were intended to protect Iraq's Kurdish and Arab Shi`a Muslim populations respectively. In September 1996 the southern air exclusion zone was extended to the 33rd parallel. French forces pulled out of enforcing the northern exclusion zone in December 1996. FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/ airmail letters in English or in your own language: - expressing concern at civilian deaths following air strikes by US and UK forces inside the air exclusion zones in January and February 1999; - asking what steps the US and UK governments have taken to prevent further civilian casualties. APPEALS TO: (Time difference = GMT - 5 hrs / BST - 6 hrs) Bill Clinton [Salutation: Dear President] President The White House Office of the President 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington DC 20500 United States of America Telegrams: President, Washington DC, United States America Faxes: + 1 202 456 2461 E-mails: president@whitehouse.gov PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: His Excellency Mr Philip Lader, Embassy of United States of America, Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE. Fax: 0171 409 1637 PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + If you have any queries about this Urgent Action or about + + the UA scheme in general, please contact: + + Ray Mitchell / Becky Hess + + Amnesty International UK Section + + 99 - 119 Rosebery Avenue + + London EC1R 4RE email: ua@amnesty.org.uk + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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