Iraqi troops launch attack to force Kurdish rebels out of northern oil city of Kirkuk [LAT, WT 3/29; MET 4/9].
Rebels says food shortages are hurting their cause; appeal for international help [NYT, WP 3/29; AFP 3/28 in FBIS 3/29].
UN environmentalist compares Kuwait's burning oil wells with Chernobyl disaster, saying scientific world is still unable to measure the extent of the disaster in Kuwait [LAT, WP 3/29].
Israel bars o.t. Palestinians from entering Jewish state and E. Jerusalem from midnight 3/28 until midnight 3/30 to prevent violence during Passover and Land Day; IDF shoots dead 12-year-old Gaza youth during clash with stone throwers [LAT, WP 3/29; JDS 3/28 in FBIS 3/28; JDS 3/28, 3/29 in FBIS 3/29; MET 4/9]; 22-year-old Palestinian is also shot dead, and elderly Jew is stabbed and wounded in Jerusalem's Old City [NYT 3/29; JDS 3/28 in FBIS 3/28].