Overnight, at least 19 U.S. sailors on leave from Gulf duty drown off Israeli port of Haifa when ferry carrying them back to USS Saratoga capsizes and sinks [JDS 12/22 in FBIS 12/24; LAT 12/22;...
Palestinians burn Israel army officer to death in his car in Gaza Strip. Crowd stones the car after it makes wrong turn and drives into Bureij refugee camp; car is set afire after soldier hits...
Pres. Bush accepts offer from Baghdad to speak on Iraqi television, says 10-15 minute speech would provide "real opportunity" to explain why he has sent U.S. troops to Saudi Arabia [LAT, WP 9/7...
Arab League foreign ministers, holding emergency meeting in Cairo, issue statement "condemn[ing] Iraqi aggression against Kuwait. . .reject[ing] any consequences resulting from such aggression," 7...
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Overnight, at least 19 U.S. sailors on leave from Gulf duty drown off Israeli port of Haifa when ferry carrying them back to USS Saratoga capsizes and sinks [JDS 12/22 in FBIS 12/24; LAT 12/22; NYT, WP 12/23; JPI 12/29; MET 1/1].
Gulf Cooperation Council opens 11th annual summit meeting in Doha, Qatar with the 6 member nations' leaders in attendance [WAKH 12/22 in FBIS 12/24; NYT 12/23; MET 1/1].
New York Times reports that in early November, Pres. Bush authorized American oil companies to import limited amounts of crude oil from Iran, partly relaxing ban on all Iranian goods imposed in 1987 near end of Iran-Iraq war [NYT 12/23].
PFLP reopens its Baghdad office after a 10-year absence [INA 12/22 in FBIS 1/3; MET 1/1].
IDF shoots dead "terrorist" cutting through fence along Israeli-Jordanian border north of Argaman settlement [JDS 12/22 in FBIS 12/24].
PLO statement says 12/20 UN Sec. Council resolution is insufficient and disproportionate compared to the volume of aggressions committed by Israel against Palestinians [AVP 12/23 in FBIS 12/24; AFP 12/22 in FBIS 12/27].
Palestinians burn Israel army officer to death in his car in Gaza Strip. Crowd stones the car after it makes wrong turn and drives into Bureij refugee camp; car is set afire after soldier hits cart, injuring 2 Palestinians while trying to flee camp. IDF imposes curfew on camp, and Gaza Strip is declared closed military zone (cf. 9/23, 9/24, 9/25, 9/28) [JDS 9/20 in FBIS 9/21; NYT, WP, WT 9/21; LAT 9/22; FJ 9/24; MET 10/2].
Saudi gov't says it will buy weapons elsewhere if U.S. backs down on $20-billion military sale [LAT, NYT, WP 9/21].
Saudi Arabia stops all oil deliveries to Jordan, citing Jordan's failure to meet payments, reportedly reflecting anger at Jordan for position in crisis; Saudi Arabia provided Jordan with 50% of its oil (cf. 10/24) [NYT, MEM 9/21].
According to Jordanian officials at least 50 Jordanians have been deported from Saudi Arabia in the last week [MEM 9/21].
Iraqi embassy in Amman announces Iraq has decided to allow all Arab nationals with residence permits who are willing to return to Iraq or Kuwait to do so as of today and until 10/26, after which right of return is forfeited [RMC 9/20 in FBIS 9/20].
Japanese officials say that Japan will funnel most of its $1 billion 1st installment of aid to multinational forces through Gulf Cooperation Council] [CSM 9/21].
Pres. Bush accepts offer from Baghdad to speak on Iraqi television, says 10-15 minute speech would provide "real opportunity" to explain why he has sent U.S. troops to Saudi Arabia [LAT, WP 9/7].
Iraq acquiesces to U.S. demand that U.S. consular be given access to American wounded by Iraqi gunfire in Kuwait [LAT, WP 9/7].
Jewish and Roman Catholic leaders, meeting in Prague, agree to forge closer relationship and combat anti-Semitism in E. Europe [LAT 9/7].
UN acknowledges shortcomings in its relief efforts for tens of thousands of refugees who fled Kuwait and Iraq for Jordan [LAT 9/7].
Saudi Arabia announces it will cover virtually all of the hundreds of millions of dollars in monthly operating costs of U.S. forces; Saudis will also contribute several billion dollars in aid to Middle East nations that have joined the coalition against Iraq [NYT, WP 9/7; MET 9/18].
Several nations, including China, India, and Tunisia, say they are considering sending emergency food and medicine to Iraq despite embargo [NYT 9/7].
Britain announces it will send additional forces to the Gulf region, and will provide about $4 million in aid to refugee relief organizations [NYT, WP 9/7].
Pres. Bush telephones Pres. Asad to discuss Gulf crisis; Asad also meets with delegation from European Parliament [DDS 9/6 in FBIS 9/7].
Qatar deports 15 additional Palestinians; this is 3d group of deportees [RAY 9/9 in FBIS 9/10].
Sec. Baker meets in Jeddah with King Fahd to discuss Gulf crisis [WP 9/7; RTS 9/7 in FBIS 9/10].
Ending 2-day meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss crisis, foreign ministers of 6-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) demand immediate Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait [SPA, RIDS 9/5 in FBIS 9/6; MET 9/18].
General strike called by Hamas is observed in Gaza Strip; commercial strike is observed in parts of W. Bank [FJ 9/10].
Arab League foreign ministers, holding emergency meeting in Cairo, issue statement "condemn[ing] Iraqi aggression against Kuwait. . .reject[ing] any consequences resulting from such aggression," 7 League members-Jordan, PLO, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and Djiboutido not endorse statement; Gulf Cooperation Council statement condemns invasion, and Egyptian foreign ministry calls for withdrawal of Iraqi troops [MENA 8/3 in FBIS 8/6; MEM 8/6].
UNLU allegedly sends cable of support to Iraqi Pres. Saddam Hussein: "You [Saddam] have taken the first step toward the liberation of Palestine" [INA 8/3 in FBIS 8/6; MEM 8/6].
