The Kurdistan Observer
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Iraq massing troops along Kurdish-held north

Iraq Press
June 30 

Iraq is sending fresh reinforcements of infantry and armor to several spots along the
semi-independent Kurdish enclave in north, travelers said.

The travelers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said more troops were deployed last
night, including tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery and infantry units.

The buildup is an apparent bid by President Saddam Hussein to test the will of both the
United States and Britain whose warplanes police a no-fly zone over northern Iraq to protect
Iraqi Kurds from attacks by Iraqi armed forces.

The travelers, arriving here from the government-held city of Mosul, said more
reinforcements were already ferried to Sheikhan on the border of the Kurdish enclave.

They said troop movements went ahead without interruption throughout last nigh. The
troops, they added, took up positions in areas close to the Kurdish-held region.

It is not clear whether the redeployment is routine or part of a new gamble by Saddam. But
the buildup has already caused concern in Iraqi Kurdish ranks.

An Iraqi army thrust into the area will certainly prompt the allies to respond with aerial
bombardment. The United States has repeatedly warned Saddam not to cross into the
Kurdish areas.

Analysts say a foray into Iraqi Kurdistan is the last card left in Saddam's hands following his
decision to halt oil exports and suspend cooperation with U.N. weapons monitors who have
carried out no inspections in the country for over two years.

Residents of the areas where the new reinforcements have taken place told Iraq Press that the
intentions behind the buildup are not clear. Even Iraqi army commanders are not aware of
''the real targets'' of the latest redeployment, they said.

But the buildup comes as the state-run media have mounted a campaign to discredit Kurdish
parties and the status-quo in the region.

Iraqi newspapers issue almost daily vitriolic attacks of Kurdish politicians, describing them
as traitors and agents.

The Kurdish service of Iraq's satellite television has recently been running interviews with
pro-government Kurdish personalities in which they hit out at Kurdish rebel leadership in the
north.

Meantime, fuel prices eased in the area following a softening of measures to crack down on
smugglers and their supply routes. Fuel prices had surged nearly 50 percent when the
government early this month tried to impose severe restrictions on movement to
Kurdish-held areas.